Cry Me A River
Cry Me A River - Justin Timberlake Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You were my sun
You were my earth
But you didn't know all the ways I loved you, no
So you took a chance
And made other plans
But I bet you didn't think that they would come crashing down, no

You don't have to say, what you did
I already know, I found out from him
Now there's just no chance
For you and me
There'll never be
And don't it make you sad about it?

You told me you love me
Why did you leave me all alone?
Now you tell me you need me
When you call me on the phone
Girl, I refuse
You must have me confused with some other guy
The bridges were burned
Now it's your turn, to cry

Cry me a river
Cry me a river
Cry me a river
Cry me a river (yeah, yeah)

You know that they say that some things are better left unsaid
And it wasn't like you only talked to him and you know it
Don't act like you don't know it
And all of these things people told me
Keep messin' with my head (messin' with my head)
Should've picked honesty
Then you may not have blown it (yeah)

You don't have to say (don't have to say)
What you did (what you did)
I already know (I already know)
I found out from him (uh)
Now there's just no chance (no chance)
For you and me (you and me)
There'll never be
Don't it make you sad about it?

You told me you love me
Why did you leave me all alone (all alone)
Now you tell me you need me
When you call me on the phone (when you call me on the phone)
Girl, I refuse
You must have me confused with some other guy (I'm not like them baby)
The bridges were burned
Now it's your turn (it's your turn) to cry

So cry me a river (go on and just)
Cry me a river (go on and just)
Cry me a river (baby, go on and just)
Cry me a river (yeah, yeah)

Oh (oh!)
The damage is done, so I guess I be leaving
Oh (oh!)
The damage is done, so I guess I be leaving
Oh (oh!)
The damage is done, so I guess I be leaving
Oh (oh!)
The damage is done, so I guess I be, leaving

You don't have to say (you don't have to say)
What you did (what you did)
I already know (I already know)
I found out from him (uh)
Now there's just no chance (no chance)
For you and me (you and me)
There'll never be
Don't it make you sad about it?

Cry me a river (go on and just)
Cry me a river (baby, go on and just)
Cry me a river (you can go on and just)
Cry me a river (yeah, yeah)

Cry me a river (baby, go on and just)
Cry me a river (go on and just)
Cry me a river (come on baby, cry)
Cry me a river (I don't wanna cry no more, yeah yeah)

Cry me a river
Cry me a river, oh
Cry me a river, oh
Cry me a river, oh

Cry me a river (cry me, cry me) oh
Cry me a river (cry me, cry me) oh
Cry me a river (cry me, cry me) oh
Cry me a river (cry me, cry me) oh
Cry me a river (cry me, cry me) oh




Cry me a river (cry me, cry me) oh
Cry me a river (cry me, cry me)

Overall Meaning

"Cry Me A River" is a song by Justin Timberlake that expresses feelings of betrayal and hurt by a former lover. The track features haunting, atmospheric beats and melancholic melodies that create a somber atmosphere. The lyrics are about a relationship that has broken down due to the partner's infidelity, which Timberlake discovered through a third party. The chorus urges the partner to "cry me a river" as a way of letting go of the hurt and moving on.


The song implies that the relationship was once happy and secure, as the opening lines describe the former partner as being everything to Timberlake--sun, earth-- but unfortunately, the partner did not recognize the ways Timberlake loved them. The partner then took a chance and made other plans that eventually caused the relationship to crash down. The chorus uses repetition to emphasize that the betrayal has caused irreversible damage and that Timberlake has moved on and no longer wants anything to do with the former partner.


Overall, "Cry Me A River" showcases the emotional vulnerability and pain that comes with betrayal in a past relationship.


Line by Line Meaning

You were my sun
You were my source of light and warmth


You were my earth
You were my foundation and stability


But you didn't know all the ways I loved you, no
But you weren't aware of the depth of my love for you


So you took a chance
So you took a risk


And made other plans
And made plans that didn't involve me


But I bet you didn't think that they would come crashing down, no
But I doubt you anticipated that your plans would fail and cause you pain


You don't have to say, what you did
You don't need to explain your actions


I already know, I found out from him
I already know the truth about what you did, I discovered it from someone else


Now there's just no chance
Now we can never have a future together


For you and me
For us as a couple


There'll never be
There is no possibility of reconciling


And don't it make you sad about it?
And doesn't it cause you pain to face this reality?


You told me you love me
You professed your love to me


Why did you leave me all alone?
Why did you abandon me and leave me to suffer?


Now you tell me you need me
Now you claim to need me in your life


When you call me on the phone
When you reach out to me


Girl, I refuse
I reject your advances


You must have me confused with some other guy
You are mistaking me for someone else


The bridges were burned, now it's your turn, to cry
Our relationship is irreparably damaged and you must now face the consequences of your actions and suffer


Cry me a river
Express your sadness and regret through tears (metaphorically)


You know that they say that some things are better left unsaid
You are aware that some truths are best kept hidden


And it wasn't like you only talked to him and you know it
And it wasn't just a casual conversation like you're pretending


Don't act like you don't know it
Don't pretend to be ignorant


And all of these things people told me
And all the things that others have revealed to me


Keep messin' with my head
Are causing confusion and turmoil in my mind


Should've picked honesty
You should have been truthful with me from the start


Then you may not have blown it
Then the situation might not have become irreparable


The damage is done, so I guess I be leaving
The harm has been done, so I must move on from this situation


Cry me a river (go on and just)
Let your emotions out and cry


The damage is done, so I guess I be
The harm has been done, so my only option is


Cry me a river (you can go on and just)
Let your emotions out and cry


Cry me a river (I don't wanna cry no more, yeah yeah)
Let your emotions out and express your regret and sadness




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Justin R. Timberlake, Timothy Z. Mosley, Scott Spencer Storch

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@jademoon7938

Scott Storch did some of the lyrics, the bridge and the melody on Cry Me a River, the beat and rest of production was Timbaland. Storch is not credited as a producer, which is why he never made any Justin Timberlake songs after Cry Me a River, and him and Timbaland fell out over it.

That kind of made him lose his career. Well, that and a crippling cocaine addiction that saw him lose his fortune, which is really sad.

I respect Storch and his work, but I sort of feel like amending my comment on Timberlake to include Storch would be like giving credit to Storch for D.R.E. Day because he wrote the piano riff.

Don't get me wrong, the piano riff made the song, it is among the most recognizable components of Dre's songs, up there with the vocoder on California Love.

That said, it is like 2% of the work that went into the song, while his work on Cry Me a River was more like 25% of the song. So he definitely deserves credit with Timberlake.

But to put Storch up there as, "The one who made Timberlake's beats"... Idk. That title belongs to Timbaland imo.



All comments from YouTube:

@mariodushi98

Is anyone just randomly watching the old songs?

@MetoNextDoor

Need more of them

@joshthompson2086

All the time older music is best this CRAP they call music now days is just junk

@allforbts4038

Me

@annejvelasquez

God they need more good songs now days and this is coming from a 12 year old😂

@travelfoodielove

Mario Dushi yup at Disneyworld and annoying all my sisters with *NSYNC AND BRITNEY throwback music hahaha

621 More Replies...

@Olhado256

Guys, if a girl cheats on you, DO NOT break into her house and watch her shower.

@nicolasderu4368

That's #GoodAdvice, right there !

@forgotaboutbre

Can I at least dance on her furniture?

@helenatn7596

Or what.. That sounds like a challenge ;)
Can us girls do it tho?

More Comments

More Versions