Lisa Ekdahl (born 29th July 1971 in Stockholm) is a Swedish singer and song… Read Full Bio ↴Lisa Ekdahl (born 29th July 1971 in Stockholm) is a Swedish singer and songwriter in popular music and a jazz singer. Her debut was in 1990 with Peter Nordahls jazz trio and she contributed to an album with Toni Holgersson. She has a contract with EMI. The self named debut album, Lisa Ekdahl, was released in 1994. She has so far published ten albums, six of them in Swedish and four in English.

Awards: Tree Grammis (Swedish) and the Rockbear (Rockbjörn) in 1994, for best female artist, best female pop-singer, and album of the year.

Cry Me A River
Lisa Ekdahl Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Now you say you need me
Why don't you prove it true
Come on and cry me a river
Cry me a river
I've cried a river over you

Now you say
You're sorry

For being so untrue
Come on and cry me a river
Cry me a river
I've cried a river over you

You drove me
Nearly drove me out of my head
Why you never shed a tear
Remember
I remember every word you said
Told me love was too plebeian
Told me you were through with me

And now you say you love me
Why don't you prove you do
Come on and cry me a river
Cry me a river
I cried a river over you

You drove me
Nearly drove me out of my head
Why you never shed a tear
Remember
I remember every word you said
Told me love was too plebeian
Told me you were through with me

And now you say you love me
Why don't you prove you do
You can cry me a river
Cry me a river
I cried a river over you

I cried a river over you
I cried a river over you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lisa Ekdahl's song "Cry Me A River" tell the story of someone who has been hurt in a relationship and is now being asked by their former partner to come back. The first verse sets the stage for the song, with the singer being asked to believe the apologies and declarations of regret they are hearing. The chorus then introduces the concept of crying a river as a metaphor for the emotional pain that has been felt by the singer. The second verse delves deeper into the backstory of the relationship, revealing that the singer had been hurt deeply by their former partner's words and actions, and that they had suffered in silence while their partner had seemingly felt nothing. The chorus is repeated, with the added twist that the singer is now the one asking for proof of love from their former partner. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus and the haunting refrain of "I cried a river over you," cementing the emotional weight of the song in the listener's mind.

The use of water as a metaphor is a common and effective way of expressing emotional pain, and "Cry Me A River" is a great example of this. The lyrics are spare but powerful, with each phrase conveying a strong emotion that draws the listener into the emotional world of the song. Additionally, the song's melody is haunting and intimate, heightening the emotional impact of the lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

Now you say you need me
You claim that you require my presence once again

Why don't you prove it true
Demonstrate your words with actions instead of just proclaiming your need for me

Come on and cry me a river
Show me some true remorse and repentance

Cry me a river
shed some real and sincere tears for the pain you caused

I've cried a river over you
I have already shed countless tears because of you

You're sorry
You are apologetic for your past dishonesty and lack of commitment

For being so untrue
Because of your past unfaithfulness and lying behavior

You drove me Nearly drove me out of my head
Your actions caused me extreme emotional distress and mental instability

Why you never shed a tear
I wonder why you never seemed to be affected or remorseful about what you did

Remember
I still recall with clarity

I remember every word you said
I have not forgotten any of the hurtful and cruel things you said to me