Crywank started in 2009 with Jay Clayton attempting to do some folk-punk influenced acoustic music with no previous experience playing guitar. The first album "James is going to die soon" was inspired by a painful break up. Jay stated that "I wrote these songs out of frustration and sadness and they ended up making me feel a lot better, I hope they have a similar effect on you".
In 2012 Crywank released their second album 'Narcissist On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown'. Described as "a collection of paranoid songs mostly about me trying to understand my own sadness along with the concept of sadness as a whole. It was fueled by self help books and pot."
In late 2012 Dan Watson joined Crywank on percussion, and in early 2013 they released tour demos for their third album 'Tomorrow Is Nearly Yesterday And Everyday Is Stupid' which was released in October 2013.
In 2016 Jay and Dan began couch surfing to afford to be able to tour as much as possible. Over the next four years they performed over 500 shows in over 30 countries and released four albums.
Crywank announced their breakup following a world tour in 2019, alongside the album ‘fist me til your hand comes out my mouth’’ a huge departure in sound and the first release to include songwriting from Dan and explained the tense relationship between Jay and Dan that had developed over the years on the road.
Their breakup tour was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic and the North American and European dates had to be rescheduled numerous times. During this time Jay was in a house fire, which led to the release of a solo Crywank album ‘Just Popping In To Say Hi’ that was written and recorded over three days.
Between 2022-2023 Crywank managed to continue their final tour and performed 100 shows in the USA and over 50 shows in the UK and Ireland, often with bass player Jules Noel (AKA Guard Petal). In 2024 it was announced that Crywank will no longer be breaking up and Jules would be joining the band.
The name Crywank comes from reclaiming a cruel nickname given to Jay during a period of depression. Jay has since said that if they knew how popular the band would have become they probably would’ve chosen a different name.
Just A Snail
Crywank Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Escargot get away from me
And I ain't no household pet
And I'm not a garden pest
I'm just a snail
S-N-A-I-L
I'm just a snail
Don't touch my eyes, I hate that shit
Don't leave out garden pellets
And in return, I'll leave you cool slime
You can do with it what you wish
I'm just a snail
S-N-A-I-L
I'm just a snail
S-N-A-I-L
I'm just a snail
Snail, snail, snail, snail, snail, snail, snail
(Snail, snail, snail, snail)
The song "Just A Snail" by Crywank is a whimsical ode to the humble snail. The opening lines immediately inform the listener that the singer is not interested in consuming snails as a delicacy, nor are they considering keeping one as a pet or trying to eradicate them as garden pests. Instead, the singer simply wants to exist in their snail form, unbothered and unharassed. The repetition of the phrase "I'm just a snail" reinforces this desire for acceptance and for others to recognize their identity.
The middle section of the song addresses specific actions that the singer dislikes or appreciates. They express their dislike for having their eyes touched, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for being violated or feeling vulnerable. Conversely, they appreciate being left alone and rewarded with their cool slime, which can be seen as a symbol of their individuality and uniqueness.
Ultimately, the song is a celebration of difference and the importance of respecting individual identities. The snail, often seen as a lowly creature, is elevated to a position of value and worthiness simply because it exists. Crywank's use of repetition, whimsical imagery, and humorous tone adds to the charm and effectiveness of the message.
Line by Line Meaning
I ain't no delicacy
I'm not something to be treated as a luxury food item.
Escargot get away from me
I don't want to be turned into a dish of snails, so stay away from me.
And I ain't no household pet
I'm not a typical, cuddly pet often kept inside someone's home.
And I'm not a garden pest
I don't want to cause harm to any plants or gardens, so don't see me as something harmful.
I'm just a snail
S-N-A-I-L
I'm just a snail
S-N-A-I-L
I am precisely what I appear to be, a snail, and I'm letting you know how to spell it too.
Don't touch my eyes, I hate that shit
I don't want you getting too close to my sensitive eyes, it's unpleasant.
Don't leave out garden pellets
Don't litter the garden with synthetic food, as that isn't what I eat.
And in return, I'll leave you cool slime
You can do with it what you wish
As a thank-you for accommodating my preferences and leaving me alone, I'm leaving a trail of slime for you to use as you please.
I'm just a snail
S-N-A-I-L
I'm just a snail
S-N-A-I-L
Just as before, I'm reiterating my presence and how to spell it properly.
I'm just a snail
Snail, snail, snail, snail, snail, snail, snail
(Snail, snail, snail, snail)
One last time for good measure, emphasizing that there's nothing more to me than just being a snail.
Contributed by Julian J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.