Byron "The Dragon" Lee passed away peacefully on November 4, 2008, after a valiant battle with cancer.
No Woman No Cry
Byron Lee Lyrics
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No woman no cry
No woman no cry
No woman no cry
Say, Say,
Say I remember when we used to sit
In a government yard in Trenchtown
As they would mingle with the good people we meet
Good friends we have
Oh, good friends we have lost
Along the way
In this great future,
You can't forget your past
So dry your tears, I say
No woman no cry
No woman no cry
Little darling, don't shed no tears
No woman no cry
Said I remember when we use to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
And then Georgie would make the fire lights
while the log wood burnin through the night
Then we would cook cornmeal porridge
Of which I'll share with you
My feet is my only carriage
And so I've got to push on through,
Oh, while I'm gone
Everything 's gonna be alright
Everything 's gonna be alright
No woman no cry
No woman no cry
Woman and sister
Don't shed no tears
No woman no cry
The song "No Woman No Cry" by Byron Lee is a classic reggae song that has been covered by several artists over the years. The song has a catchy, repetitive chorus that urges the listener not to cry, particularly directing this message towards women. The chorus sets the tone of the song that is a message of hope and encouragement to people who might be going through tough times, stressing that everything will be alright in the future.
The beginning of the song reminisces about the past when the singer and his friends used to sit in a government yard in Trenchtown, describing how they would observe hypocrites among the good people. The singer recalls the good friends they have lost along the way and advises that one should not forget their past since it is an essential part of their great future. Consequently, the listener should focus on the positive memories and move forward without shedding any tears.
The second verse describes how Georgie would make a fire light while the log wood burned through the night, and they would cook cornmeal porridge. The singer has nothing else but his feet as a carriage and encourages his listener to keep pushing, stating that everything will be alright when he's gone. The magnanimous song ends with a clear message directed towards women not to cry, giving hope that everything will fall into place.
Line by Line Meaning
No woman no cry
The absence of a woman does not have to result in sadness or tears.
No woman no cry
Repetition of the previous line to reinforce the idea that women are not the cause of sadness.
No woman no cry
Continued repetition of the phrase to emphasize that women do not deserve tears.
No woman no cry
Final repetition of the chorus to conclude the song.
Say, Say,
The author is inviting the listener to indulge in a story or memory.
Say I remember when we used to sit
Recalling a time when they used to sit in a specific location.
In a government yard in Trenchtown
Describing where they used to sit, in a yard owned by the Jamaican government.
Observing the hypocrites
Making note of people who pretend to share some ideas or virtues, but act in opposition to them.
As they would mingle with the good people we meet
Noting how those hypocrites would interact with genuine people the author met.
Good friends we have
Acknowledging the existence of good friends.
Oh, good friends we have lost
Saddened by the fact that some of those good friends are not present anymore.
Along the way
Implying that those lost friends were left behind as the author progressed.
In this great future,
Looking to the future.
You can't forget your past
Reminding the listener that the past still matters.
So dry your tears, I say
Encouraging the listener to stop crying because everything will be alright.
Little darling, don't shed no tears
Addressing a loved one and imploring them not to cry.
Said I remember when we use to sit
Returning to the memory of sitting in the government yard in Trenchtown.
And then Georgie would make the fire lights
Describing Georgie, who would be the one lighting the fire.
while the log wood burnin through the night
Describing the physical act of burning wood.
Then we would cook cornmeal porridge
Describing the process of cooking cornmeal porridge.
Of which I'll share with you
Offering to share the porridge with the listener.
My feet is my only carriage
Acknowledging that the author used to walk everywhere.
And so I've got to push on through,
Despite the challenges, the author feels the need to keep going.
Oh, while I'm gone
Implying the author must leave for some purpose.
Everything 's gonna be alright
A reminder that everything will be okay.
Everything 's gonna be alright
Emphasizing the same idea as before.
No woman no cry
Reiterating the fact that women are not the source of sadness.
No woman no cry
As before, emphasizing that women do not deserve tears.
Woman and sister
Addressing the women listening to the song.
Don't shed no tears
Directly imploring the women not to cry.
No woman no cry
One last time, reminding the listener that the lack of women does not have to be a source of sadness.
Writer(s): Klaus Biedermann, Jimmy Cliff, Papa Linley, Arnold Jarvis, Melissa Bell, Paul Pfab, Helmet Wolfgrueber
Contributed by Alyssa L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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