Ella Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996), also known as "Lady Ella"… Read Full Bio ↴Ella Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996), also known as "Lady Ella", and the "First Lady of Song", was an American jazz vocalist.

Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971) was a trumpet player, singer, and bandleader, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists in the history of jazz.

Cryin' Mood
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Lyrics

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Woe is me
I'm as blue as anyone can be
I feel like a weepin' willow tree
I'm in a cryin' mood

Pair by pair
I see happy lovers everywhere
But the one I love don't seem to care

I'm in a cryin' mood

Each day I'm by my own-some
Blue Mondays rain or shine
I'll say this world is lonesome
I'm just the lonesome kind

Why, oh, why
Did he have to go and say goodbye?
Seems the moon is low and so am I
I'm in a cryin' mood

Each day I'm by my own-some
Blue Mondays rain or shine
I'll say this world is lonesome
I'm just the lonesome kind

Oh, why, oh, why
Did he have to go and say goodbye?

Seems the moon is low and so am I
I'm in a cryin' mood

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ella Fitzgerald's song "Cryin' Mood" express a feeling of heartbreak and loneliness. The singer is devastated by the fact that her lover has left her, and she struggles to cope with her emotions. The opening line "Woe is me, I'm as blue as anyone can be" sets the tone for the song, with the singer feeling down and despondent. She compares herself to a "weeping willow tree," highlighting her sense of vulnerability and sadness.

Throughout the song, the singer is confronted with happy couples, which only serve to heighten her sense of isolation. Despite her efforts to find solace, she continues to feel alone and acutely aware of the absence of her lover. The repeated line "I'm in a crying mood" emphasizes her emotional state, with the tears and sadness serving as a constant presence in her life.

The final two lines of the song, "Oh, why, oh, why, did he have to go and say goodbye? Seems the moon is low and so am I, I'm in a cryin' mood" encapsulate the singer's anguish. She is unable to move past her heartbreak, and the pain is all-encompassing. Despite the bleakness of the lyrics, the song is deeply affecting, and Ella Fitzgerald's emotive delivery captures the raw emotions of a person in the depths of heartbreak.

Line by Line Meaning

Woe is me
I'm feeling sorrow and distress

I'm as blue as anyone can be
I'm very sad and down

I feel like a weepin' willow tree
I feel like crying all the time just like a willow tree sways in the wind

I'm in a cryin' mood
I'm feeling emotional and depressed

Pair by pair
Everywhere I look, there's a happy couple

I see happy lovers everywhere
Couples are all around me, enjoying their time together

But the one I love don't seem to care
The person I love is indifferent to me

Each day I'm by my own-some
I spend every day alone

Blue Mondays rain or shine
Every Monday is sad and depressing, regardless of the weather

I'll say this world is lonesome
The world is a lonely place

I'm just the lonesome kind
I have a tendency to be lonely