Cry Me a River
Ray Charles Lyrics


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Now you say you're lonely
You cried the long night through
Well, you can cry me a river
Cry me a river
I cried a river over you
Now you say you're sorry
For being so untrue
Well, you can cry me a river
Cry me a river
I cried a river over you
You drove me,
Nearly drove me out of my head
While you never shed a tear
Remember?
I remember all that you said
Told me love was to plebeian
Told me you were through with me
Now you say you love me
Well, just to prove you do
Cry me a river
Cry me a river
I cried a river over you
You drove me
Nearly drove me out of my head
While you never shed a tear
Remember?
I remember all that you said
Told me love was to plebeian
Told me you were through with me
And now you say you love me
Well, just to prove that you do
Come on! Come on!
Cry me a river
Cry me a river

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ray Charles's song Cry Me a River talk about heartbreak, revenge, and a desire for justice. It is about a person who has been hurt and has cried a river over their lover's unfaithfulness. The song showcases the vulnerability and emotional turmoil that comes with a broken heart. The person being addressed in the song is now seeking forgiveness, but the singer is hesitant to believe them. The chorus "cry me a river" is a metaphorical expression of wanting to see their lover suffer and go through the same pain they have been through.


The verses highlight the pain that the singer has experienced because of their lover's actions. They feel like they have been driven out of their mind, while their lover never shed a tear. They also remember how their lover belittled their love and ended the relationship, only to come back and claim to love them again. The song suggests that the singer feels a sense of satisfaction in seeing their lover reduced to tears, as it is a form of retribution for the pain they caused.


Overall, the song Cry Me a River is a powerful expression of heartbreak and the desire for justice. It shows the complexity of emotions that come with a broken heart and the need for closure and revenge.


Line by Line Meaning

Now you say you're lonely
You express your own sense of loneliness.


You cried the long night through
You sobbed for hours in anguish and sadness.


Well, you can cry me a river
You can vent your sorrowful emotions to me as I've experienced such hurt too.


Cry me a river
Cry a lot to show how hurt you are.


I cried a river over you
I felt just as miserable when you caused me pain and hurt.


Now you say you're sorry
You express regret over your past actions.


For being so untrue
For betraying my trust and love in you.


You drove me,
You overwhelmed me with your actions.


Nearly drove me out of my head
You nearly made me lose my mind over the pain you inflicted on me.


While you never shed a tear
You didn't show any remorse over your actions.


Remember?
Do you recall that about yourself?


I remember all that you said
I recall your words and promises.


Told me love was to plebeian
You dismissed my love as common and unworthy.


Told me you were through with me
You informed me that our connection was beyond repair.


Now you say you love me
You claim to have regained your love for me.


Well, just to prove you do
To solidify your sentiments, you must show it through your actions.


Come on! Come on!
Go ahead, don't be shy or hesitant.


Cry me a river
Demonstrate the authenticity of your emotions.


I cried a river over you
I was deeply affected by your actions and cried intensely over it.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Arthur Hamilton

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@rodrigosaenz2844

Ray was Ray! Truly one of a kind!! I could listen to this performance over and over and over again!!

@Berenicechaves1

Essa orquestra é de enlouquecer! Magnifica! Que arranjos!

@AlyoshaJackson

I'm studying his life in music class. What a amazing human being, singer, pianist and songwriter. He showed to the world that despite a handicap you can do great things. That you mister Ray Charles for this lesson.

@kierjw

i wish i was born in the 1950's so i could have seen him, such a good era for music

@Milen983

Honestly, I like this interpretation the most. Ray Charles is genius of harmony, emphasizing, putting right emotions in right moments, not speaking about richest instrumental interpretation and style. Here is lightness, satisfaction, sense of victory over someone, bitterness of suffering for whom is still noticed in voice. He plays as always natural. From what I've listened too, Ella Fitzgerald's and Julie London's interpretations I liked too.

@davidwilliamson404

JUST FOR THE RECORD, MILEN: Julie London's rendition of this song was NOT AN, " INTERPRETATION". It was, "Her Song"; and it was on her debut album back in 1955. ALL THE REST, are, "Interpretations". And Mediocre, to Lousy ones, at that. If Ray meant this as a tribute to Julie... HE MISSED THE MARK. end of story. :-(

@genesmith4019

LoL I saw you at the Grammys Dave- WITH a Bucket and MOP!@@davidwilliamson404

@MyMy-zi7yv

I like it, I like it! I love his arrangements of covers, he's like Darin, a master at covering a song!!!!!!!! Take lessons Buble!

@rodrigosaenz2844

To put it mildly, Bublé never paid any “dues.” His arrangers are great but his performances are, mostly, flat, listless. I ain’t buying whatever it is he’s selling. Or trying to sell.

@sonofroderick4255

DAMN......WOW!!!! You can feel the anger.....LOVE IT!!!!

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