For You
Jo Stafford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, this is me, darlin'
Oh, my darlin', what a surprise
It's been so long
Why, there's tears in my eyes
When will you be here, what time will it be?
Oh, you're not coming? I see, oh, I see
Thank you, I'll try
Thank you for calling, goodbye
Yes, operator, I'll hang up the phone
Yes, yes, I know my party is gone
But I'll always love him
I guess 'til I die
Thank you for calling, goodbye
"I Cried for You" is a powerful and emotional song about a woman who's been deeply hurt by a man's broken promises and dishonesty. The lyrics describe how she used to cry over the hurtful things he said and did to her, but now she's calling him out and letting him know that it's his turn to suffer the pain of heartbreak. She's found someone new who treats her better, and she wants her ex-lover to know that she's moved on and that he has lost her forever. The song is a statement of strength and empowerment, as the woman asserts her independence and takes control of her life by leaving behind the hurtful past.
The first verse is particularly powerful, as it describes the deep pain of heartbreak and betrayal. The woman recalls how she used to weep and lose sleep over the cruel words and broken promises of her lover. She was deeply hurt by his laughter and indifference, but she has found the strength to move on and find someone new. The chorus is a defiant statement of her new-found confidence and independence, as she declares that she has cried for him and now it's his turn to cry over her. The final verse is a reflection on the past and how the woman never felt valued by her ex-lover, but she has now found someone who loves and appreciates her for who she is.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember other days how I used to weep
I recall days when I was consumed with sadness
Over things you said to me; I couldn't even sleep
Your words hurt me so deeply that I couldn't even find rest
You forgot your promises, every single vow
You failed to keep your word and broke every promise you made
All you did was laugh at me, but things are different now
You found amusement in my pain, but now the situation is reversed
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
I wept for you before, but now it's your turn to experience grief
Every road has a turning
Life is full of twists and turns
That's one thing you're learning
You are finally realizing this truth
I cried for you; what a fool I used to be
I recognize now that I was foolish for putting up with your mistreatment
Now I found two eyes just a little bit bluer
I have found someone else with more attractive eyes than you
I found a heart just a little bit truer
I have discovered someone else who is more sincere and genuine
How can I forget the hours that I worried through
I can't erase the memories of the hours I spent consumed with worry
Wondering the live long day just what next thing to do?
Pondering endlessly throughout the day what my next step should be
In those days you never thought anything of me
You regarded me with disdain and didn't value me at all
But the slave that was all yours and now at last is free
I was once under your control like a slave, but now I am free and independent
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Cindy Walker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Trombonology Erstwhile
My all-time favorite arrangement from my favorite arranger, the great Sy Oliver, as well as my favorite Dorsey band vocal from my favorite singer, the great Jo Stafford. Superb use of dynamics in this flawless chart; and wonderful solo work from Heinie Beau, Joe Bushkin and Ziggy Elman.
Swingman 56
Absolute perfection! A "homerun" side: words,music,arrangement, and last but not least,a stellar vocal by Miss Jo!
Trombonology Erstwhile
@Paul Money She
Paul Money
I think he likes it.
Jannetje Bicker
Thank you for sharing this beautiful song with me, love it!☺️🌹
Mark Thompson
Thats so much better! The punch is back, and its like having the band sat there in front of you. Some lovely legato phrasing from Jo Stafford, unlike so many of her contemporary band "canaries", and that chart is to die for! Jimmie Lunceford must have hated losing Sy Oliver.
On the subject of reverb, and what one commenter said the other day about out the original Masters being transferred to tape with added reverb in the 50s, and then trashing the metal parts,
how is it that the major Dorsey/Sinatra reissues have had such excepionally good clarity and depth, but without any audible reverb? Or is it that RCA never binned the originals?
Mark Thompson
@SheridanJazz Yeah. That's fair enough. Sounds a bit like my employer:)
SheridanJazz
@Mark Thompson Fair enough, but Lunceford would pay his men around $15 per night, sating times were tough, and then go and buy himself a plane (he was a pilot) for $30K and pay cash. A bit hypocritical, yes? Believe me, the Lunceford band was making top dollar at the time.
Mark Thompson
@SheridanJazz I would imagine that the white bands were commanding vastly greater appearance fees in those days, too. Some of the pay grades for sidemen were off the scale. I'm sure that black bands, even including the likes of Basie and Ellington, could not hope to compete, even if being generous.
SheridanJazz
Jimmie Lunceford was notoriously cheap with all of his sidemen, which eventually became his Waterloo. When Tommy Dorsey offered Oliver $5000 more a year than Lunceford was paying him, he accepted on the spot.