Kenneth Earl Burrell (born July 31, 1931 in Detroit) is an American jazz gu… Read Full Bio ↴Kenneth Earl Burrell (born July 31, 1931 in Detroit) is an American jazz guitarist. His playing is founded in bebop and blues but works well with other jazz styles, so he has performed and recorded with a wide range of jazz musicians.

Burrell made his first recording in 1951, with Dizzy Gillespie. After moving from Detroit to New York City in 1956, he recorded with a wide range of prominent musicians, including John Coltrane, Benny Goodman, Gil Evans, Stan Getz, Billie Holiday, Milt Jackson, Quincy Jones, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Rollins, Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine, and Cedar Walton. He also led his own groups since 1951.

In the 1970s he began leading seminars about music, particularly Duke Ellington's (Burrell has a music degree from Wayne State University). A highly popular performer, he has won several jazz polls in Japan and the United Kingdom as well as the United States.

He has recorded about 40 LPs, including Midnight Blue (1961), Blue Lights, Guitar Forms, Sunup To Sundown (1990), Soft Winds (1993), Then Along Came Kenny (1993), and Lotus Blossom (1995).

Burrell now serves as Director of Jazz Studies at UCLA.

Don't Cry Baby
Kenny Burrell Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't cry, don't cry, baby
Don't cry, baby
Dry your eyes
And let's be sweethearts again

Oh, 'cause you know
You know I didn't mean
To ever treat you so mean

Come on, come on sweetheart
Let's try it over again

And, oh, don't cry, don't cry, baby
Don't cry, don't cry
Dry your eyes
And let's be sweethearts again

And, oh, 'cause you know
You know I didn't mean
To ever treat you so mean
Come on, come on sweetheart
And let's try it over again

Oh, don't cry, don't cry, baby
Oh, don't cry, baby, don't cry
Dry your eyes
And let's be sweethearts again

Oh, don't cry, don't cry
Don't cry, don't cry
I'm so sorry, baby
Don't cry

And don't cry
I got you right here

I wanna keep you near
Forever my dear, baby, baby

Overall Meaning

The song "Don't Cry Baby" by Kenny Burrell is a soothing melody that speaks to a lover who has been wronged. The song begins with the singer pleading with their significant other not to cry, assuring them that everything will be okay. They apologize for their past behavior, admitting that they didn't mean to treat their lover so poorly. They encourage their sweetheart to give them another chance, to try and start over again.

The chorus emphasizes the plea of the singer, repeating the refrain "Don't cry, don't cry, baby" and urging their lover to dry their eyes. The singer again apologizes for their past behavior, stating that they never intended to mistreat them. They ask their lover to give them another chance and try again.

The song is an example of a classic love ballad, with a simple structure that emphasizes the emotional message. The lyrics evoke a feeling of tenderness and vulnerability, encouraging listeners to empathize with the singer and their plea for forgiveness.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't cry, don't cry, baby
Please don't cry my dear

Don't cry, baby
Please don't cry my love

Dry your eyes
Stop the tears and the hurt

And let's be sweethearts again
Let's put the past behind us and start anew as lovers

Oh, 'cause you know
Because you understand

You know I didn't mean
You know I didn't purposefully

To ever treat you so mean
To ever treat you unkindly or cruelly

Come on, come on sweetheart
Please, oh please, my love

Let's try it over again
Let's start fresh and work towards a better future together

I'm so sorry, baby
I apologize deeply to you, my love

And don't cry
Please don't cry my dear