Joan Armatrading MBE (born Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading in Basseterre, Sa… Read Full Bio ↴Joan Armatrading MBE (born Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading in Basseterre, Saint Kitts on 9 December 1950) and brought up in Birmingham, England, is a British singer, songwriter, and guitarist.

Armatrading has mixed eclectic musical styles over decades of recording and performing. She has had several British hit singles, the biggest of which were "Love & Affection", "Me Myself I", and "Drop the Pilot". Her music is generally pop, with forays into rock, folk, jazz, and even reggae. Her popularity is primarily as an album artist.

She gained a new audience following her writing and performing "The Flight of the Wild Geese", which was used during the opening and end titles for the 1978 film The Wild Geese.

Armatrading first performed in a concert at Birmingham University for her brother at the age of about 16 (circa 1966). She only knew her own songs, but her brother asked her to perform something that would be familiar to the audience; she chose "The Sound of Silence".[9] She then performed her own songs around the local area with a friend from school, and played bass and rhythm guitar at local clubs.

Cry
Joan Armatrading Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I find myself
In times of trouble
And all I can do is cry

I find that all
The cares surround me
And all I can do
Is cry

Nothing you can do
Is ever gonna hurt like this
Nothing you can say
Is ever gonna hurt like this

I can't forget the one
Said I can't forget the one
No I can't forget the one
I saw you holding

As your beautiful mouth kissed those pouting mouth
I could tell that I was losing

My source of comfort is now fading
And all I can do
Is cry

Nothing you can do
Is ever gonna hurt like this
Nothing you can say
Is ever gonna hurt like this

And I can't forget the one
I just can't forget the one
Said I can't forget the one
No I can't forget the one
I saw you holding

Why just doesn't matter
What I want to know is when

When did you stop craving
For the nearness of me
And my perfumed smell
When I play with your hair
And the feeling you get
When I touch you

The sun has set
Our love
Is shaded
And all I can do
Is cry

Nothing you can do
Is ever gonna hurt like this
Nothing you can say
Is ever gonna hurt like this

And I can't forget the one
Said I can't forget the one

No I can't forget the one
I saw you holding

Overall Meaning

The song "Cry" by Joan Armatrading is a melancholic ballad that explores the pain of a lost love. The singer finds herself drowning in troubles, and her only comfort is to cry. She feels surrounded by cares, and it seems like crying is the only way to let go of her emotions. No matter what anyone else does or says, nothing can compare to the pain she's experiencing.

In the second verse, the singer recalls a moment when she saw her partner kissing someone else. She describes the moment vividly, and it's clear that she's devastated. She can't forget this event, which has shattered her sense of security and comfort. The chorus repeats the idea that nothing can hurt as much as the pain of lost love. The final verse of the song is reflective, as the singer wonders when her partner stopped feeling the same love she felt. The song ends with the singer realizing that her love is now shaded, and all she can do is cry.

Overall, "Cry" is a powerful and emotionally charged song that conveys the pain and heartache of lost love. It's a relatable and honest depiction of the struggles we all face when we experience heartbreak.

Line by Line Meaning

I find myself
I am currently in a difficult situation

In times of trouble
During times of hardship

And all I can do is cry
I feel overwhelmed and the only way to cope is to cry

I find that all
I realize that everything

The cares surround me
My worries are surrounding me

Nothing you can do
There is nothing that anyone can do

Is ever gonna hurt like this
My pain is so intense that nothing else can compare

Nothing you can say
No words can ease my pain

I can't forget the one
I cannot forget about the person

Said I can't forget the one
I have verbally expressed that I cannot forget this person

No I can't forget the one
I am unable to forget about this person