Lyle Lovett is an americana singer-songwriter and actor from Klein, Texas, … Read Full Bio ↴Lyle Lovett is an americana singer-songwriter and actor from Klein, Texas, who has been described as "the thinking man's cowboy". While typically associated with the alt-country genre, his albums typically incorporate folk, swing, blues, jazz and gospel music as well as more traditional country & western styles. The Night's Lullaby Songfacts reports that after twenty-six years with Curb, Lyle Lovett released his eleventh and last album for the record label, Release Me, on February 28, 2012. The record is mainly made up of covers that Lovett has played, but never got round to recording.

The four-time Grammy winner has acted in a number of films and been a guest-star on television. Lovett was married to actress Julia Roberts for a short time in the mid-1990s. In 2002, he was gored by a bull while working on his uncle's farm in Texas, but soon recovered and resumed touring.

Don't Cry A Tear
Lyle Lovett Lyrics

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Go if you must go
Turn if you must turn away
Don't cry a tear for me

Laugh if you can smile
Run if you're walking away
Don't cry a tear for me

Shout if you can speak
Sing if you mention my name
Don't cry a tear for me

Low in the valley, stand in the wind and the rain
High on the mountain, see the sun shining again

Shout if you can speak
Sing when you mention my name
Don't cry a tear for me

So go if you must go

Turn if you must turn away
Don't cry a tear for me.

Overall Meaning

Lyle Lovett's "Don't Cry A Tear" is a song about letting go and moving on. The lyrics evoke a sense of understanding and acceptance that can be difficult to reach when parting ways with a loved one. The song's repeated refrain, "Don't cry a tear for me," speaks to the idea of respecting one another's decisions and personal journeys.

The song's first verse advises the listener to go if they must go, if it's time to turn away, but encourages them not to cry a tear for the person they are leaving behind. Similarly, the second verse suggests that they should laugh, smile, or even run away, but again, not to cry for the person they're leaving.

The final verse of "Don't Cry A Tear" is perhaps the most poignant, as it encourages the listener to stand strong through the trials of life, whether in the valley of hardship or the mountaintop of success. It repeats the refrain once more, urging the listener to shout, speak, or sing about them, but not to cry for them.

Overall, the song is a reminder that while goodbyes can be painful, they are a natural part of life, and that we should strive to support and encourage one another through this process, rather than holding onto negative emotions.

Line by Line Meaning

Go if you must go
If you feel the need to leave, then go ahead and leave

Turn if you must turn away
If you need to turn your back on me, then do what you need to do

Don't cry a tear for me
Please don't waste any tears on me, I don't deserve it

Laugh if you can smile
If you're able to find joy and laughter, then embrace it

Run if you're walking away
If you're leaving, then you may as well run to your new destination

Shout if you can speak
If you have a voice, then make it heard and shout out loud

Sing if you mention my name
If my name is brought up, then sing it with joy and love in your heart

Low in the valley, stand in the wind and the rain
Even when life gets tough and the storms come, stand strong and hold on

High on the mountain, see the sun shining again
Even after the storms, there will be a time of peace and joy again

Shout if you can speak
Embrace your voice and speak out loud

Sing when you mention my name
When you think of me, sing my name with joy and love