Combustible Edison was a group founded in 1991 in Providence, Rhode Island,… Read Full Bio ↴Combustible Edison was a group founded in 1991 in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, and was one of several lounge music acts that led a brief resurgence of interest in the genre during the mid-1990s. Unlike other bands with a more ironic take on the lounge scene, Combustible Edison took the music seriously and strove to add to what its members saw as a canon of works, such as those by Esquivel, Henry Mancini, and Martin Denny.

Originally formed around 1991 to serve as the musical accompaniment to a stage show entitled "The Tiki Wonder Hour," the 12-piece "Combustible Edison Heliotropic Foxtrot Orchestra" slimmed down to its five core members, shortened its name, and put out a debut album, "I, Swinger," on Sub Pop records. The band put out two more full-length discs - "Schizophonic!" and "The Impossible World" - and several singles. The band also recorded the soundtrack to the film Four Rooms, with music produced by Mark Mothersbaugh.

Experimental film maker Kenneth Anger claims that he was asked to direct a music video for Combustible Edison, but turned the request down after listening to a tape of the bands music.

Cry Me A River
Combustible Edison Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Now you say you're lonely
You cry the long night through
Well, you can cry me a river
Cry me a river
I cried a river over you

Now you say you're sorry
For being so untrue

Well, you can cry me a river
Cry me a river
I cried a river over you

You drove me, nearly drove me, out of my head
While you never shed a tear
Remember, I remember, all that you said?
You told me love was too plebeian
Told me you were through with me and

Now you say you love me
Well, just to prove that you do
Come on and cry me a river
Cry me a river
I cried a river over you

I cried a river over you
I cried a river, over you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Combustible Edison's song Cry Me a River is about a lover who has been spurned but finds solace in the fact that their former lover is now experiencing the same pain. The song starts with the singer addressing their former lover, who is now claiming to be lonely and crying at night--the same thing that the singer experienced after being dumped. The chorus emphasizes the singer's request for their former lover to cry them a river, which suggests that the singer wants their ex to understand the intensity of their pain. The singer then reminds their ex of their past behavior which led to the relationship's end, and how they claimed to be too good for the singer. However, the ex is now claiming to love the singer, but the singer does not buy this sentiment and asks for them to cry them a river to prove their love.

The song is powerful in its storytelling and use of symbolism. The idea of crying a river is used to represent the intensity of emotions experienced after heartbreak. Furthermore, the use of water and rivers is often associated with cleansing and moving forward, which may suggest that the singer wants their ex to understand their pain and to use it to grow and improve themselves.

Line by Line Meaning

Now you say you're lonely
You express your feelings of loneliness

You cry the long night through
You shed tears all night long

Well, you can cry me a river
You can express your sadness to me

Cry me a river
Show me how you're feeling

I cried a river over you
I felt deep sorrow because of you

Now you say you're sorry
You apologize for your actions

For being so untrue
For not being honest

You drove me, nearly drove me, out of my head
You caused me to become extremely upset

While you never shed a tear
While you didn't show any emotion

Remember, I remember, all that you said?
I recall everything you told me

You told me love was too plebeian
You said that love is too basic