Donald Walbridge Shirley was born on January 29, 1927, in Pensacola, Florida, to Jamaican immigrants, Stella Gertrude (1903–1936), a teacher, and Edwin S. Shirley (1885–1982), an Episcopal priest. His birthplace was sometimes given as Kingston, Jamaica, because promoters advertised him as being Jamaican-born.
Shirley was married to Jean C. Hill in Cook County, Illinois on December 23, 1952. but they later divorced.
He died of heart disease April 6, 2013, at the age of 86.
During the 1960s, Shirley went on a number of concert tours, some in Deep South states, hiring New York nightclub bouncer Tony "Lip" Vallelonga as his driver and bodyguard. Their story is dramatized in the 2018 film Green Book.
I Cried for You
Don Shirley Lyrics
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Over things you said to me; I couldn't even sleep
You forgot your promises, every single vow
All you did was laugh at me, but things are different now
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
Every road has a turning
That's one thing you're learning
Now I found two eyes just a little bit bluer
I found a heart just a little bit truer
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
How can I forget the hours that I worried through
Wondering the live long day just what next thing to do?
In those days you never thought anything of me
But the slave that was all yours and now at last is free
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
Every road has a turning
That's one thing you're learning
I cried for you; what a fool I used to be
Now I found two eyes just a little bit bluer
I found a heart just a little bit truer
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
The lyrics to Don Shirley's song "I Cried for You" express the pain and heartache that comes with a failed relationship. The singer reminisces on the past when they used to cry over the hurtful things the other person said and the broken promises they made. The other person laughed at them and seemed not to care, but now everything has changed. The singer has moved on and found someone new, and it's now the other person's turn to feel the pain and cry over what has been lost.
The song highlights the idea that every road has a turning, and that sometimes we have to go through heartbreak to reach a better place. The singer has learned from their past mistakes and is now stronger for it. They have found someone who is just a little bit better for them, with "two eyes just a little bit bluer" and "a heart just a little bit truer." This new love is a source of comfort and healing, and the singer is able to move on from the past and leave the pain behind.
Overall, the lyrics to "I Cried for You" convey a deep sense of loss and heartbreak, but also hope and resilience. The song encourages listeners to keep pushing forward, even when things seem hopeless, and to have faith that better days are ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember other days how I used to weep
I recollect the past and how I used to cry
Over things you said to me; I couldn't even sleep
Over the things you said to me that kept me up at night
You forgot your promises, every single vow
You broke your promises and forgot every vow
All you did was laugh at me, but things are different now
All you did was mock me, but things have changed now
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
I shed tears for you before, now it's your turn to do the same for me
Every road has a turning
Everything changes eventually
That's one thing you're learning
That's something you are coming to realize
I cried for you; what a fool I used to be
I wept for you in the past when I was a fool
Now I found two eyes just a little bit bluer
Now I discovered a pair of eyes that are slightly more beautiful
I found a heart just a little bit truer
I discovered a heart that is slightly more authentic
How can I forget the hours that I worried through
How could I ever forget the hours of anxiety that I endured
Wondering the live long day just what next thing to do?
Constantly worrying throughout the day about what to do next
In those days you never thought anything of me
During that time, you never valued me
But the slave that was all yours and now at last is free
But the person you owned and controlled is now finally free
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gus Arnheim, Arthur Freed, Abe Lyman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
FredONeil1
pure class
Rodney Koerber
Smooth as Silk ❤
Chester Watkins
Yes, yes! MISS Horn! We still love you in Chicago IL DON'T let the sun catch you crying.
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