Loren’s debut release of eleven original songs and one cover (Joni Mitchell's "River"), Full Circle, was released in 2006.
Her sophomore album, They Oughta Write a Song (2008), brought to light her life-long love of jazz standards, and subsequently won a national independent music award for best vocal jazz album, and soon after received distribution in Asia by JVC/Victor Entertainment and in North America by Justin Time Records.
Her holiday album with pianist Matt Treder, Many Times, Many Ways: a Holiday Collection, also recorded in 2008, was first released in limited edition, then followed with worldwide distribution in 2011.
Her fourth CD, the live album Stages (2010), was met with critical praise, including being named as an Editor’s Pick at CD Baby and “best live album of the year” at Wildy’s World.
After Dark followed in 2010, with the Loren original Thirsty winning the Independent Music Awards’ Vox Pop poll for best jazz song of the year.
The concoction of jazz standards, re-imagined pop classics, and originals that made up 2012’s Heart First was honored by Japan’s Jazz Critique magazine as the "best vocal jazz album of 2011". Fly Me to the Moon, a bonus track, spent three weeks at No. 1 on the iTunes Japan jazz chart. It was among the top 10 jazz CDs in Hot New Releases at Amazon in the U.S. and Canada, and reached No. 1 on the iTunes Canada jazz albums chart.
For the past three years she has traveled the world with the members of her original band, including Canada, across the U.S., Japan, Italy, China, Hong Kong, and South Korea, and include big band/symphonic performances with the Jazz Orchestra of Sicily, the Corvallis-OSU Symphony Orchestra in Oregon, and the Monroe Symphony in Louisiana.
The year 2013 brought Halie Loren’s Simply Love, with three new originals and ten re-imagined classics from contrasting eras of the American songbook. It rose to the top of the Japan charts in pop and jazz even before its June release date, and claimed No. 1 in its first week and by its third week, climbed to No. 1 spot on Billboard Jazz / Japan. Singles included the string-infused original Cuando Bailamos, Carole King’s 1974 B-side hit I Feel the Earth Move, and the title track, which Loren co-wrote with Benita Hill.
Simply Love was released in the U.S. and Canada by Justin Time Records on Sept. 10, 2013, entering iTunes Canada as #1 jazz album. She and her band are touring the US and other parts of the world in support of the album.
Cry Me A River
Halie Loren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You cried the long night through
Well, you can cry me a river, cry me a river
I cried a river over you
Now you say you're sorry
For being so untrue
Well, you can cry me a river, cry me a river
I cried, cried, cried a river over you
You drove me, nearly drove me, out of my head
While you never shed a tear
Remember, I remember, all that you said
You told me love was too plebeian
Told me you were through with me and
Now you say, you say you love me
Well, just to prove that you do
Come on and cry me a river, cry me a river
Cause I cried a river over you
You drove me, nearly drove me, out of my head
While you never shed a tear
Remember, remember, all that you said
Told me love was too plebeian
Told me you were through with me and
Now, now you say you love me
Well, just to prove you do
Come on and cry, cry, cry me a river, cry me a river
Cause I cried a river over you
The Halie Loren song "Cry Me a River" is a classic torch song in which Loren addresses an ex-lover who has come back, expressing regret for his past infidelity and insincerity. The song begins with the ex-lover's claim that he is lonely and has been crying all night, to which Loren responds that he can "cry me a river" - a phrase that she repeats throughout the song. Loren then takes the opportunity to remind the ex-lover of his past transgressions and the pain that he caused her, saying, "You drove me, nearly drove me, out of my head, while you never shed a tear," and "Remember, I remember, all that you said, told me love was too plebeian, told me you were through with me."
However, as the song progresses, Loren softens her tone, admitting that she still loves the ex-lover despite the hurt that he has caused her. She challenges him to prove that he still loves her by crying a river, just as she once did, over the pain of their breakup. Despite the bitterness and anger present in the song's opening verses, "Cry Me a River" ultimately becomes an expression of Loren's deep longing for the ex-lover to return, coupled with her fear that he may hurt her again.
Overall, "Cry Me a River" combines classic torch song traditions with a palpable sense of heartbreak and emotional vulnerability, making it a classic of the genre.
Line by Line Meaning
Now you say you're lonely
You claim to be alone and deserted.
You cried the long night through
You wept for an extended period of time without stopping.
Well, you can cry me a river, cry me a river
You can cry your heart out for all I care.
I cried a river over you
I wept uncontrollably because of you.
Now you say you're sorry
You express remorse and regret for your actions.
For being so untrue
For deceiving and betraying me.
You drove me, nearly drove me, out of my head
You nearly caused me to go insane with your behavior.
While you never shed a tear
You didn't seem to care or show any emotion.
Remember, I remember, all that you said
I still recall every word you spoke to me.
You told me love was too plebeian
You said that love was beneath you and not worth pursuing.
Told me you were through with me and
You declared that our relationship was over and done with.
Now you say, you say you love me
You now claim to have feelings of love for me.
Well, just to prove that you do
To demonstrate the legitimacy of your declarations.
Come on and cry me a river, cry me a river
You can express your emotions and cry as much as you want, but it won't change what you've done.
Cause I cried a river over you
I poured out my sorrows and wept for what you put me through.
Writer(s): ARTHUR HAMILTON
Contributed by Adalyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.