Biography:
Norman grew up in a small town in the northern Germany where he learned how to sing and play instruments when he was little. When he finished highschool, his family decided to send him to artschool because he was so good at painting and drawing. He wanted to become a lawyer but he followed their advice and went to Berlin.
Artschools are relaxed places, so he had enough time to write more songs and play music. Eventually he moved to Paris, where he found out that there was a little microphone inside his laptop which worked perfectly to record his songs. When he came back to Berlin, he had a lot of songs recorded and a lot of pictures in his head. He wanted to share these pictures with the listeners of his songs, so he designed a little book which goes along with his record. Every song is illustrated in one chapter.
On stage Norman felt that people were staring at him a bit too much, so he set up a projection and let the pages of the book flip while he performed the songs live. In Berlin people were clapping a lot, so he was encouraged to take his show to other cities and other countries where people seemed to like it, too.
Norman was invited to play at art galleries and cultural festivals, took cool pictures of himself, sold a song to MTV and even gave interviews talking about his work. Radio stations started to play his songs.
His first real record then was called “Boys and Girls”: They were cover versions of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Boys Don’t Cry”. People especially liked the cover of the record, and the songs he sometimes heard playing in cosy coffee places. The next single was called Falling. It was requested to be used in an ice cream commercial, but it never happened in the end.
In the meanwhile the album he had been working on was finally published by a small label called Ratio Records in which he was also involved. It came out as a book-cd combination: 12 songs and 200 pages. They printed 1000 copies, each of them numbered. These copies sold pretty quickly on shows and through his webpage.
Boys Don't Cry
Norman Palm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I thought that it would change your mind
But I know that this time
I've said too much
Been too unkind
I try to laugh about it
Cover it all up with lies
Laugh about it
Hiding the tears in my eyes
'cause boys don't cry
Boys don't cry
I would break down at your feet
And beg forgiveness
Plead with you
But I know that
It's too late
And now there's nothing I can do
So I try to laugh about it
Cover it all up with lies
I try to
laugh about it
Hiding the tears in my eyes
'cause boys don't cry
I would tell you
That I loved you
If I thought that you would stay
But I know that it's no use
That you've already
Gone away
Misjudged your limits
Pushed you too far
Took you for granted
I thought that you needed me more
Now I would do most anything
To get you back by my side
But I just
Keep on laughing
Hiding the tears from my eyes
'cause boys don't cry
Boys don't cry
Boys don't cry
Norman Palm's song "Boys Don't Cry" is a lamentation of a man who has lost his lover and is unable to express his emotions to her. The first verse has the singer apologizing to his partner and admitting he has been unkind, but he knows that saying sorry would not change her mind. He has already said too much and regrets his actions. In the second verse, he tries to hide his emotions behind a façade of laughter, but he is secretly crying on the inside. He believes that boys don't cry, and he shouldn't show his emotions because it goes against the masculine stereotype that men should be strong and not cry.
In the third verse, the singer admits he would do anything to get his lover back and wishes to express his love for her, but he knows it's too late. He acknowledges that he misjudged the limits of their relationship and took her for granted. He confesses he thought she needed him more and feels guilty for neglecting her. In the final verse, the singer is still attempting to hide his emotions, and he keeps laughing while concealing his tears. He repeats the phrase that "boys don't cry" as if reminding himself that he should not show his vulnerability.
In conclusion, the song "Boys Don't Cry" is a poignant and melancholic ballad that depicts the inner struggles of a man who is unable to express his emotions fully. The song reflects the societal expectation that men should be strong and not show vulnerability, leading to repressed emotions and self-doubt. Palm's song highlights the importance of being honest about one's emotions, and it is OK to cry, regardless of gender.
Line by Line Meaning
I would say I'm sorry
I regret my actions and would apologize if I thought it would make a difference
If I thought that it would change your mind
I don't believe an apology would make you forgive me
But I know that this time I've said too much, been too unkind
I realize that my behavior was hurtful and went too far
I try to laugh about it, cover it all up with lies
I pretend that everything's okay and hide my true emotions
I try and laugh about it, hiding the tears in my eyes
I'm trying to hold back my tears and hide my pain
'cause boys don't cry
Men are often taught that showing emotions is a sign of weakness
I would break down at your feet, and beg forgiveness
I feel so guilty that I would humiliate myself to be forgiven
But I know that it's too late and now there's nothing I can do
I recognize that I've lost the chance to make things right and have no control over the situation
I would tell you that I loved you if I thought that you would stay
I truly love you, but I know you've already made up your mind to leave
But I know that it's no use, that you've already gone away
I accept that you're gone, and there's nothing I can do to change that
Misjudged your limits, pushed you too far
I underestimated how much I could ask of you and went too far
Took you for granted, I thought that you needed me more
I assumed that you would always be there no matter what and didn't appreciate you enough
Now I would do most anything to get you back by my side
I'm willing to do anything to make things right between us
But I just keep on laughing, hiding the tears from my eyes
Despite my inner turmoil, I'll continue to pretend that everything's okay
'cause boys don't cry
I continue to hide my emotions due to societal expectations
Boys don't cry
Repetition of the chorus to emphasize the message
Contributed by Aiden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
gledalka
love this version. makes it emotional ..human like..not facade like ..like the original
bloblo112
the brass instrument in this song sounds divine
KAri
I never saw the 'original' version, but I liked this one very much. I thought it was very well done and sweet. I wish people wouldn't be so harsh with their critiques on here.
Sanfona Kafonah
Thank you so much! Great version.
diehitteat
i love this song :)
Marie Cardenas
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM ... it just gave words and music to my feelings today ... I thought I wasn't so in love, but Iam ... beautiful version.
Marcus Nuing Voon
of course nothing beats the original, but i think this version strips it bare so it's rather melacholic
Laiquendi Johnson
But it is a wonderfull song. Imagen you are a boy and you are crying. In that time I promise you you will like this song more then the great original! I love both versions!
Perfused
Great version, thanx!
rogerkbarrett
I absolutely loved the trumphet, but The Cure remain The Cure... and there's nothing I can do.