I Cried for You
Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra Lyrics
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Over things you said to me; I couldn't even sleep
You forgot your promises, every single vow
All you did was laugh at me, but things are different now
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
Every road has a turning
That's one thing you're learning
Now I found two eyes just a little bit bluer
I found a heart just a little bit truer
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
How can I forget the hours that I worried through
Wondering the live long day just what next thing to do?
In those days you never thought anything of me
But the slave that was all yours and now at last is free
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
Every road has a turning
That's one thing you're learning
I cried for you; what a fool I used to be
Now I found two eyes just a little bit bluer
I found a heart just a little bit truer
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
In "I Cried for You," Billie Holiday sings about a relationship that has ended, but not without leaving emotional scars. The song is a testimony of how the singer has been hurt by a partner who broke their promises and vows. The opening lines reminisce on how the singer used to weep at the things their partner said, unable to sleep. The partner had been careless, laughing at their pain, and forgetting their promises. However, things have changed. The singer declares that they have cried for the partner, and now it's their turn to cry over them.
The chorus, "I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me," is a powerful statement of the singer's triumph over their former partner. They have found someone else, someone with gentler eyes and truer heart. The past has made them wiser, and they now know that every road has a turning. As they sing, "What a fool I used to be," the singer acknowledges their past naivety but also basks in the moment of present satisfaction. They are now free from the slavery of their past relationship and have moved on to a better life.
Overall, "I Cried For You" is a story about moving through heartbreak and emerging stronger on the other side. The singer has spent enough time grieving, and now it's their former partner's turn to feel the pain. The song ends with the tone of finality, with the singer having made peace with their past and ready for the new relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember other days how I used to weep
I recall a time when I would shed tears over the hurtful things you said to me, causing even my sleep to be disturbed.
Over things you said to me; I couldn't even sleep
The things you said to me would cause such turmoil that I found it impossible to find rest in sleep.
You forgot your promises, every single vow
You failed to keep your word and broke every promise you made to me, leaving me disappointed and hurt.
All you did was laugh at me, but things are different now
You used to find pleasure in my pain, but now the tables have turned, and things have changed.
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
I shed tears for you in the past, and now it's your turn to feel the same heartache over me.
Every road has a turning
Every path in life presents unexpected twists and turns.
That's one thing you're learning
You are realizing this truth through the pain you are now experiencing.
I cried for you; what a fool I used to be
I look back and realize how foolish I was to have invested so much emotion into someone who did not value me.
Now I found two eyes just a little bit bluer
I have found someone whose eyes are even more captivating than yours.
I found a heart just a little bit truer
I have discovered someone whose heart is more genuine and loyal than yours ever was.
How can I forget the hours that I worried through
I cannot forget the countless hours I spent consumed with worry and anxiety over our relationship.
Wondering the live long day just what next thing to do?
I spent my days pondering what my next move in our relationship should be, unsure of how to make things better between us.
In those days you never thought anything of me
During our time together, you never truly valued or appreciated me for who I was.
But the slave that was all yours and now at last is free
I was once bound to you, like a slave to their master, but now I am free from the chains of our toxic relationship.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gus Arnheim, Arthur Freed, Abe Lyman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Janette Walker
Wonderful, and a lesson in life that no matter your background , with effort, anyone can fulfil their potential.
preservationhall01
+Janette WalkerShe worked hard to earn those high achievements and always seemed to know where she was headed. Nothing was going to stop her and she just got better and better with age.