I Cry Alone
Maxine Brown Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I cry alone
When no one else can hear me
When friends come by to cheer me
I smile and say I feel okay

But I cry alone
Each lonely night without you
But when they talk about you
I make believe I never grieve

And here in my room
When no one else can find me
I lock the door behind me
And I cry
Please come home, come back to me
Oh how I long to kiss you
If friends say I don't miss you
They just don't know
How I cry alone

If friends say I don't miss you





They just don't know
How I cry alone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Maxine Brown's "I Cry Alone" depicts a person who is struggling with loneliness and heartbreak caused by the absence of a significant other. The singer reveals that she pretends to be okay and happy when in the company of friends, but in reality, she cries alone every lonely night without her partner. She further explains that even when friends talk about her lover, she makes believe she never grieves.


The second verse of the song is even more heart-wrenching as it reveals a picture of the singer in her room, where she locks the door and cries her heart out. It is a place where she feels safe, where no one else can find her, and where she reveals her true emotions. The lyrics end with the plea for her lover to come back to her, expressing her desire to kiss her and her frustration that her friends do not understand the depth of her grief.


Overall, the lyrics of "I Cry Alone" communicate the pain and struggles that come with heartbreak, loneliness, and the desire for the return of a loved one. It emphasizes the need for community and emotional support as well as an honest expression of emotions to move through difficult times.


Line by Line Meaning

I cry alone
I weep without anyone's help


When no one else can hear me
No one hears my cries


When friends come by to cheer me
My friends visit to make me happy


I smile and say I feel okay
I pretend to be fine and smile


But I cry alone
But I still shed tears by myself


Each lonely night without you
Every night spent without you is lonely


But when they talk about you
When someone mentions you in front of me


I make believe I never grieve
I pretend that your absence doesn't hurt me


And here in my room
In the privacy of my own room


When no one else can find me
When I'm all alone


I lock the door behind me
I lock myself in the room


And I cry
And I weep


Please come home, come back to me
I beg you to come back to me


Oh how I long to kiss you
I desire to kiss you so much


If friends say I don't miss you
When friends suggest that I don't feel your absence


They just don't know
They are not aware of my true feelings


How I cry alone
How I weep without anyone by my side




Contributed by Riley I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@stevenwashington8763

Had only been familiar with Dionne's lovely version. But this original version by Maxine Brown is terrific.

@phillaing

this is the definitive versiom anyone who thinks otherwise has cloth ears. Thanks for the post

@phillaing

brill post love this song thank you

@phillaing

totally agree

@paulgreen9792

Dionnes is definitive! PWG

@frankiehunter.

The best version is by Ruby & the Romantics.

@davidl879

0:30

@mouradsaleh2477

1:02

@byan85

Superior to the Ruby & the Romantics version, in my view.

@SomeoneHasToSayIt2525

Great version but I prefer Dionne’s and Ruby’s. Scepter/Wand shamelessly saved money by using the exact same instrumental and vocal track on both the Dionne and Maxine versions. Give them both a listen. My guess is that Dionne’s was the demonstration record.

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