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.
Squeezing the Damp Tea Towel to Its Final Few Drips
Crywank Lyrics
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My motor mouth runs from fear of making more mistakes
Implicate myself through false guilt and voice breaks
Jilted speech, inspecting feet, waiting for an answer you are
but me sway silently staring into space, safe place, headspace
hardly, cerebral argie-bargie
contemplating harder than when you're sat alone at a party
maybe not, come happen these knots
Many tangents gallop, maggot dragon dripping in smegma
Fragments of stagnant talent, the advent of forgetting passion
pageant queen come happen a magnet, drift baggage
find only a planet of absence
Abscess on your gadget or garment
More substance in silence
Remind me not to write again
The lyrics of Crywank's song "Squeezing the Damp Tea Towel to Its Final Few Drips" reflects the struggle of a person who has been moping over changes they refuse to make. They are trapped in their own thoughts, filled with fear of making more mistakes and blaming themselves with false guilt. The pain and guilt they feel is evident through the jilted speech and voice breaks. The person is in a state of self-doubt, inspecting their feet, and waiting for an answer that may never come. They see the other person as a safe place, a headspace where they can sway silently and stare into space. They are caught in their own cerebral argie-bargie, contemplating harder than when one is alone at a party, questioning, trying to untangle the knots.
The person then traverses through many tangents, galloping like a maggot dragon dripping in smegma, overwhelmed by the stagnancy of their talent, and forgetting the passion that once filled them. They see themselves as a pageant queen, waiting for someone to happen and magnetize them, or drift, carrying the weight of their baggage, and finding only a planet of absence. They find themselves struggling with the abscess on their gadget or garment, a metaphor for the pain and hurt that they carry with them. Yet, amongst all the struggle and hurt, the person realizes that there is more substance in silence than in their words. They remind themselves not to write again, not to manifest their pain in words.
Line by Line Meaning
Many moons of moping over changes I won't make
I have spent a long time being sad about things in my life that I am too scared to change.
My motor mouth runs from fear of making more mistakes
I talk a lot because I am afraid of making mistakes and looking foolish.
Implicate myself through false guilt and voice breaks
I blame myself for things that are not my fault and my voice breaks when I'm upset.
Jilted speech, inspecting feet, waiting for an answer you are
I speak awkwardly and nervously, avoiding eye contact and waiting for your response.
but me sway silently staring into space, safe place, headspace
I find comfort and safety in being alone with my thoughts, even if it means staring off into the distance without moving.
hardly, cerebral argie-bargie
My thoughts are chaotic and confusing, and it's hard for me to make sense of them.
contemplating harder than when you're sat alone at a party
I spend more time thinking deeply about things than most people do, even when I'm alone at a party.
maybe not, come happen these knots
I'm not completely sure, but maybe things will work out in the end and my problems will be resolved.
Many tangents gallop, maggot dragon dripping in smegma
My thoughts and ideas are all over the place and sometimes disturbing or unpleasant.
Fragments of stagnant talent, the advent of forgetting passion
I used to have talent and passion, but now I feel like I'm stuck and my creativity is fading.
pageant queen come happen a magnet, drift baggage
Even though I try to attract positive things into my life, I still feel weighed down by my problems and past mistakes.
find only a planet of absence
Despite my efforts, I still feel empty and unfulfilled.
Abscess on your gadget or garment
Your possessions are a source of pain or discomfort for you.
More substance in silence
Sometimes it's better to say nothing and just be present in the moment.
Remind me not to write again
I regret sharing my thoughts and feelings, and I don't want to do it again.
Contributed by Jason O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.