Cry
Pere Ubu Lyrics


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Cry one time for the Man in the Moon.
Cry for the Old Man and the Sea.
Cry once for hope.
Cry once for us and the way things turned out to be.

Cry for tomorrow.
Cry for today.
Cry for the lives that we've frittered away.

Cry one time for the harvester's plight.
Cry for the old man on his knees.




Cry once for all.
Then cry for the dawn of the day neither one of us wanted to see.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Pere Ubu's song "Cry" reflect upon the various struggles and sorrows of people and the world around us. The opening lines call for crying for the Man in the Moon and the Old Man and the Sea, who are often seen as solitary figures in literature and mythology. The lines suggest that even these seemingly uninvolved entities can be mourned for the despair they represent in the larger scheme of things.


The song then calls for crying for the hope that we've lost and the way things have turned out, implying that the world may not have turned out as we had hoped it would. The call for crying for tomorrow and today emphasizes how much we may have lost over the course of time. The lyrics continue with the call for crying for the lives we've wasted away and frittered, implying that we may have squandered our potential and opportunities.


The final part of the song calls for crying for the harvester’s plight, the old man on his knees, and ending with crying for the dawn of the day neither one of them wanted to see. These lines seem to allude to the struggles of ordinary people in agriculture and fishing and a bleak future they face in the face of environmental, economic, or other challenges.


Overall, "Cry" is a poignant and reflective song that speaks to the general sense of despair, loss, and vulnerability we all may feel at times.


Line by Line Meaning

Cry one time for the Man in the Moon.
Express your sadness and sorrow for the lonely Man in the Moon.


Cry for the Old Man and the Sea.
Feel the pain for the Old Man and the Sea, as he struggles to catch fish in his old age.


Cry once for hope.
Let your tears represent the hope that is left, even in this dark world.


Cry once for us and the way things turned out to be.
Weep for the way our lives have turned out to be, despite our hopes and dreams.


Cry for tomorrow.
Grieve for the unknown future, and the uncertainty that it brings.


Cry for today.
Mourn for the present moment, and the struggles that we face.


Cry for the lives that we've frittered away.
Regret the time and opportunities that we have wasted in life.


Cry one time for the harvester's plight.
Empathize with the difficult life of the harvester, who toils for a living.


Cry for the old man on his knees.
Express your sadness for the old man who is weak and vulnerable.


Cry once for all.
Weep for all the pain and suffering that is present in this world.


Then cry for the dawn of the day neither one of us wanted to see.
Finally, shed tears for the inevitable and unwanted future that awaits us all.




Contributed by Julia L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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