Lena Martell is a Scottish singer who was born Helen Thomson on 15 May 1940… Read Full Bio ↴Lena Martell is a Scottish singer who was born Helen Thomson on 15 May 1940, in Glasgow, Scotland. She had a number one UK single with One Day At A Time in November 1979.

She had released a number of standards throughout the 1970's on the Pye label and was a popular draw on the cabaret circuit but her gospel tinged country cover of the song written by Marijohn Wilkin and Kris Kristofferson proved to be an unlikely success at the height of disco and new wave, topping the UK singles chart for three weeks in November 1979. Her follow up single failed to chart so she has the dubious honour of being classified as a one hit wonder.

Although out of the limelight for a while while nursing her sick mother, Lena has now returned to the music business and is still touring the UK. She has recently released a few albums on the ScotDisc label which have been very successful[citation needed].

Her audience's favourite still remains "One Day At A Time", though there are many others who absolutely adore "The Old Rugged Cross"!

Don't Cry For Me Argentina
Lena Martell Lyrics

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It won't be easy, you'll think it strange
When I try to explain how I feel
That I still need your love after all that I've done
You won't believe me, all you will see is a girl you once knew
Although she's dressed up to the nines
At sixes and sevens with you
I had to let it happen, I had to change
Couldn't stay all my life down at heel

Looking out of the window, staying out of the sun
So I chose freedom, running around trying everything new
But nothing impressed me at all
I never expected it to

Don't cry for me, Argentina
The truth is, I never left you
All through my wild days, my mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance

And as for fortune, and as for fame
I never invited them in
Though it seemed to the world they were all I desired
They are illusions, they're not the solutions they promised to be
The answer was here all the time
I love you, and hope you love me
Don't cry for me, Argentina

Don't cry for me, Argentina
The truth is, I never left you
All through my wild days, my mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
Have I said too much?

There's nothing more I can think of to say to you
But all you have to do is look at me to know
That every word is true

Overall Meaning

Lena Martell's song "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" takes us on a journey about a woman who has gone through some dramatic changes in her life. She tells us that it won't be easy for the person she is talking to--presumably someone from her past--to understand why she still needs their love even after everything that has happened. She acknowledges that they will only see the girl they once knew, even though she has changed a lot. Her previous life had become mundane and uneventful, so she chose freedom and ran around trying everything new. However, nothing impressed her beyond the love she had always known from the people in her life.

In the chorus, she tells us not to cry for her country, Argentina, as she was always there even though it might have seemed like she left. Through all her wild days and crazy existence, she kept her promise to those she loved. She never really cared about fame or fortune, as they were only illusions and not the solutions she thought they'd be. She concludes with the reassuring words that there is nothing she can say, but if her audience looks at her, they'll know that every word of her love for them is true.

Don't Cry For Me ArgentinaLena Martell Lyrics

Don't Cry For Me Argentina
Lena Martell Lyrics