You Don't Have To Cry
Crosby Stills Nash (& Young) Lyrics
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Do you think of me and how you left me cryin'?
Are you thinkin' of telephones, and managers,
And where you got to be at noon?
You are living a reality I left years ago
It quite nearly killed me.
In the long run it will make you cry.
Make you crazy and old before your time.
I won't argue right or wrong,
But I have time to cry, my baby
You don't have to cry,
I said cry my baby, you don't have to cry
I said cry my baby, you don't have to cry.
In the mornin' when you rise
Do you think of me and how you left me cryin'?
Are you thinkin' of telephones, and managers,
And where you got to be at noon?
You are living a reality I left years ago
It quite nearl killed me.
In the long run it will make you cry.
Make you crazy and old before your time.
And the difference between me and you.
I won't argue right or wrong,
But I have time to cry, my baby
You don't have to cry,
I said cry my baby, you don't have to cry
I said cry my baby, you don't have to cry.
The lyrics to Crosby Stills and Nash's song You Don't Have To Cry convey a message of understanding and compassion for a former lover who has moved on to a different reality, one marked by telephones, managers, and a fast-paced lifestyle. The singer acknowledges the pain of the past and how it nearly destroyed them, but also recognizes the lessons learned from experiencing that pain that allowed them to have perspective on the present situation.
The song speaks to the idea that the choices we make in life have consequences and those consequences can manifest in various ways. The lifestyle of the person the singer is addressing may seem exciting and glamorous on the surface, but in the long run, it will "make you crazy and old before your time." In contrast, the singer has time to cry and process their emotions, which will ultimately allow them to heal and move forward.
Overall, the message of the song is one of empathy, understanding, and the importance of taking the time to process and heal from emotional pain, rather than simply burying it and moving on.
Line by Line Meaning
In the mornin' when you rise
As you wake up in the morning
Do you think of me and how you left me cryin'?
Do you remember leaving me feeling sad and alone?
Are you thinkin' of telephones, and managers,
Are you focusing on work responsibilities and making calls?
And where you got to be at noon?
And worrying about where you need to be at noon?
You are living a reality I left years ago
You are currently living in a life that I left behind many years ago
It quite nearly killed me.
This way of living nearly destroyed me
In the long run it will make you cry.
This lifestyle will eventually make you feel sad as well
Make you crazy and old before your time.
It will wear you down and make you feel mentally unwell and prematurely aged
And the difference between me and you.
The distinction between us is that
I won't argue right or wrong,
I won't debate the pros and cons of our separate paths in life
But I have time to cry, my baby
But I allow myself room to feel emotions and express them, my dear
You don't have to cry,
You don't have to feel the same sadness and pain
I said cry my baby, you don't have to cry
I want to reassure you that you can let go of this heartache and move on
I said cry my baby, you don't have to cry.
I repeat my encouragement to release your sadness and not let it consume you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: JASON STAEHLER HILL, DAVID R. JOHANSEN, SYLVAIN MIZRAHI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind