Emily Loizeau (born 7 February 1975) is a French singer songwriter. Born in… Read Full Bio ↴Emily Loizeau (born 7 February 1975) is a French singer songwriter. Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France to a British mother, Emily’s music is influenced as much by French chanson (Jeanne Moreau, Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Legrand) as by American singer-songwriters and icons like Tom Waits and Randy Newman. She cites Georges Brassens, Bob Dylan, and The Beatles as her primary influences.

At the end of 2001, at the age of 26, Loizeau decided to dedicate her life to singing.

Tell Me That You Don't Cry
Emily Loizeau Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My face is wrinkled
Yours eyes still tinkle
Inside the deep blue me
And I cry so much
My face is cracked
And my soul plays hide and seek

But tell me that you don’t cry

'Cause days as they go by
Have brought me birds that don’t fly
So tell me that you don’t cry

Today all day I thought of you
But I know that I don’t love you
Not the way I should

Not the way lovers do
But forever I’ll miss you

But tell me that you don’t cry
'Cause days as they go by
Have brought me birds that don’t fly
So tell me that you don’t cry

The world’s asleep
My pain grows deep
Ten thousand million feet
Like a broken rose

I lost my root
Tell me can a rose live without a root

Overall Meaning

In Emily Loizeau's song "Tell Me That You Don't Cry," the singer is reflecting on the fragility of life and relationships. The comparison between the singer's aging face and the twinkle in the eyes of their loved one highlights the passing of time and the contrast between the physical and emotional changes that occur with age. The repetition of crying and cracked faces further emphasizes the theme of sadness and loss.

Despite the pain that the singer is feeling, they ask their loved one to tell them that they don't cry. It is as if they are seeking reassurance or comfort from the person they care for. The mention of birds that don't fly adds another layer of symbolism to the song. Birds are often seen as symbols of freedom and flight, so perhaps the singer feels trapped or unable to move on from their sadness.

The last stanza brings up the metaphor of a broken rose without roots. This can represent the fragility of relationships and the importance of having a strong foundation in order to thrive. The ending of the song is somewhat ambiguous, leaving the listener to wonder whether the singer will be able to recover from their pain and loneliness.

Line by Line Meaning

My face is wrinkled
I've aged and am showing it

Yours eyes still tinkle
You still have that youthful spark in your eyes

Inside the deep blue me
Within the depths of my being

And I cry so much
I'm emotional and cry often

My face is cracked
I've been through a lot and it shows

And my soul plays hide and seek
I struggle to feel at peace with myself

But tell me that you don’t cry
Please tell me that you're not hurting like I am

'Cause days as they go by
As time passes

Have brought me birds that don’t fly
I've encountered situations that didn't work out

So tell me that you don’t cry
Assure me that you're not feeling the same pain as me

Today all day I thought of you
You've been on my mind non-stop