… Read Full Bio ↴Edith Massey (May 25, 1918 - October 24, 1984) was an American actress.
Edith grew up in an orphanage in Denver, Colorado and later absconded to Los Angeles, California in an attempt to start a career in show business. She was an extra in the 1940 film Arise, My Love. Director John Waters met Edith while she was working as a bartender at Pete's Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland. While living in Baltimore, Edith opened up a thrift store called Edith's Shopping Bag. She starred in five John Waters films: Multiple Maniacs (1970), Pink Flamingos (1972), Female Trouble (1974), Desperate Living (1977), and Polyester (1981). In the late-1970s and early-1980s, Massey capitalized on the infamy of Waters' films by touring as the lead singer of a punk band, (Edie and the Eggs). She also posed for a series of greeting cards. Later, when the Baltimore winters became too much for her to endure, she moved to Venice, California, where she opened another thrift store. During the year of her death, Edith starred in the film Mutants in Paradise. She died in 1984 of cancer-related illness and was interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Director Robert Maier made a documentary short about her in 1975 entitled Love Letter to Edie.
Big Girls Don't Cry
Edith Massey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You hurt me when you were around
But now I'm back to let you know
Don't ever keep this big girl down
Big girls don't cry
They don't cry
Big girls don't cry
This girl said goodbye
My oh my
This girl didn't cry
I wonder why
Silly girl
Told my boy we'll have to break up
Silly girl
I thought that he would call my love
Silly girl
When he said to my surprise
Big girls don't cry?
Big girls don't cry
They don't cry
Big girls don't cry
Who says they don't cry
Big girls don't cry
Big girls don't cry
You broke my heart and you made me cry
You hurt me when you were around
But now I'm back to let you know
You'll never keep this big girl down
Maybe I was cruel
I was cruel
Baby, I'm a fool
Silly fool
Silly girl
Shame on you my mama said
Silly girl
Shame on you, you cried in bed
Silly girl
Shame on you, you told the lie
Big girls don't cry
Big girls don't cry
They don't cry
Big girls don't cry
That's just an alibi
Big girls don't cry
Big girls don't cry
Big girls don't cry
...
The lyrics of "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Edith Massey can be interpreted in a few different ways. At first glance, it appears to be a song about a girl who has been hurt by a boy and is determined to show him that she won't be kept down by the experience. The phrase "big girls don't cry" could be seen as a defiant statement that she won't give in to tears or emotion. However, as the song progresses, there is a hint of vulnerability and self-doubt. The lines "This girl said goodbye, my oh my, this girl didn't cry, I wonder why" suggest that the girl is questioning her own lack of emotional response to the breakup. She may be wondering if there is something wrong with her or if she is simply trying too hard to be tough. The chorus repeats over and over, almost like a mantra, "Big girls don't cry, who says they don't cry?" as if the singer is trying to convince herself that she is okay even though she may not feel that way inside.
On a deeper level, the song could be seen as a commentary on societal expectations of women and what it means to be a "big girl." The phrase "big girls don't cry" is a common one, and it could be argued that it reinforces the idea that women should be strong and emotionless. The fact that the singer is defying this expectation by acknowledging that it's okay to cry could be seen as a feminist statement. Additionally, the line "shame on you, you cried in bed" suggests that the societal expectation is so strong that even when a girl does cry, she is made to feel ashamed of it.
Overall, "Big Girls Don't Cry" is a catchy, upbeat song that could be interpreted in a number of ways. It could be seen as a breakup song, a feminist anthem, or simply a fun pop tune. Whatever the interpretation, it's clear that Edith Massey had a unique perspective and a way with words.
Line by Line Meaning
You broke my heart and you made me cry
You caused me great emotional pain
You hurt me when you were around
I was hurt by being in your presence
But now I'm back to let you know
I've returned to deliver a message
Don't ever keep this big girl down
You can't keep me down because I am strong
Big girls don't cry
Mature, strong women don't shed tears easily
They don't cry
Crying is not a sign of weakness for mature, strong women
Who says they don't cry
Is there anyone who can control when a strong woman sheds tears?
This girl said goodbye
I bid farewell to a bad relationship
My oh my
How painful it was to do so
This girl didn't cry
I maintained my composure during the breakup
I wonder why
I'm questioning why I didn't show emotion
Silly girl
I made a mistake
Told my boy we'll have to break up
I let my significant other know that it was time to end the relationship
I thought that he would call my love
I assumed that he loved me enough to try to make it work
When he said to my surprise
When he unexpectedly said
Big girls don't cry?
Questioning if strong women don't cry as he claimed
Maybe I was cruel
Perhaps I acted harshly towards him
Baby, I'm a fool
I admit that I wasn't right in how I handled the situation
Silly girl
Again, acknowledging that I made a mistake
Shame on you my mama said
My mother scolded me for how I acted
Shame on you, you cried in bed
You should be ashamed for crying
Shame on you, you told the lie
You should be ashamed for not telling the truth about strong women and their emotions
That's just an alibi
Claiming that the notion of strong women not crying is just an excuse
Big girls don't cry
Reinforcing the idea that strong women don't let their emotions control them
Big girls don't cry
Repeated to emphasize the previous point
Big girls don't cry...
Continued repetition of the idea that strong women do not easily shed tears
Contributed by Violet S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nankypooh655
Does it get any more punk rock than this? Well, there IS Born to be Cheap by Divine, but this is right on par with that!
@dickdastardly687
Long love Edith. Love her
@onceuponatime800
You go Mama Eddie! you are the BEST. ! I'm so sad you are no longer with us to make more movies with John Waters and make us laugh till we wet our pants ❤️️❤️️❤️️❤️️
@davidfrazier2738
My late best friend spent time with her. And said that Edie was so nice. They are both irreplaceable. Edie. And Barbara. Really
@virus4rm_
Edith Massey ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
@maleficentsfire
This fucks actually. Better than Taylor Swift's entire catalogue for damn sure
@seethransom
love edie
@joanneponton6847
If you can find it Rhino's world's worst records too funny but not politically correct
@scottleft3672
NO FKN WAAAAY....and not an EGG in sight.
@joanneponton6847
John Waters Rox female trouble etc