Crying, crying never did nobody no good no how
That's why I don't cry
That's why I don't cry Laughing, laughing sometimes does somebody some good somehow
That's why I--I'm laughing now
That's why I--I'm laughing now Loving, loving never did me no good no how--no how
That's why I can't love you now
That's why I can't love you now Lying, lying never did nobody no good no how-no how
So why am I lying now? So why am I lying now? So why am I lying now?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Labi Siffre's song "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" can be interpreted as a commentary on the human experience of dealing with emotions and relationships. Siffre seems to be saying that while crying may be a natural human response to emotional pain, it ultimately doesn't do anyone any good. Laughing, on the other hand, may be more helpful in some situations, perhaps because it can help to ease tension and make us feel better. The same can be said for lying - even though it may seem like an easy way out of a difficult situation, it ultimately doesn't benefit anyone in the long run.

The line "Loving, loving never did me no good no how--no how" can be interpreted in a few different ways. It could be that Siffre has been hurt so badly in the past that he can no longer love someone as fully as he once did. Alternatively, he may be suggesting that love is inherently a flawed concept - that it never truly benefits anyone in the end.

Overall, these lyrics are complex and thought-provoking, challenging listeners to consider what it means to truly feel emotion and build meaningful relationships with others.

Line by Line Meaning

Crying, crying never did nobody no good no how
Crying never brought about any positive outcomes for anyone, which is why I refuse to cry.

That's why I don't cry
I do not cry because it never helps to improve a situation.

Laughing, laughing sometimes does somebody some good somehow
Sometimes laughing can make a positive impact on a person or situation.

That's why I--I'm laughing now
That is why I am choosing to laugh in this moment.

Loving, loving never did me no good no how--no how
My experiences with love have never led to anything positive for me, which is why I cannot love you now.

That's why I can't love you now
I am unable to love you because of the negative experiences I have had with love in the past.

Lying, lying never did nobody no good no how-no how
Lying has never brought about positive results for anyone, which is why I question why I am even lying now.

So why am I lying now? So why am I lying now? So why am I lying now?
I am unsure why I am choosing to lie in this moment, considering my knowledge that it never leads to anything good.

Writer(s): Labi Siffre Copyright: Chrysalis Songs Ltd.

Contributed by Daniel S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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