Boys Don't Cry
Robin Dowling Lyrics

boys don't cry over petty shit, petty shit
Men are not supposed to show their emotions or cry about insignificant things.

boys don't even cry over big shit, right?
The societal expectation for men is to remain stoic, even in the face of major tragedies or hardships.

and boys never show their emotions in public
Men do not display their feelings outside of private contexts, as doing so would be seen as unmanly.

but boys can be sad on the inside
Despite upholding strict gender norms in public, men can and do experience inner turmoil and emotional pain.

my heart told me "please take your time
The artist's inner voice or intuition urges them to be patient with love

let me have this one for a while
The singer's heart desires to hold onto their current love interest as long as possible.

let me stay close to hers, let our beats synchronize
The singer wishes for a deep, meaningful connection with their love interest.

until you can't tell which heartbeat is hers or mine"
The artist desires a profound intimacy where they are so in sync with their partner that it is difficult to tell where one ends and the other begins.

but when i saw you hanging out with other guys
The artist feels a sense of jealousy or discomfort after seeing their love interest spending time with male friends.

i wasn't bothered, at least i didn't show it
The artist is trying to suppress their emotions, as displaying them goes against social expectations.

and when i called you up and you just let it ring
The singer feels hurt and ignored when their calls to their love interest go unanswered.

i wasn't bothered, at least you never saw it
The artist is trying to protect their own image and dignity by not displaying their pain or frustration to their partner.

don't say love is in our hearts
The singer feels that expressing love as an abstract idea is not enough to convey the depth of their emotions.

say our hearts are in love, say our hearts are in love
The singer desires a deeper connection, where the hearts of the couple beat as one in a profound way.

at least mine is, wish i could say for sure that hers was too
The singer feels certain of their own love, but is uncertain whether their love interest reciprocates those emotions.

but when i saw you on the street with someone else
The artist feels a sense of betrayal and sadness when they see their love interest with another person.

i wasn't bothered, at least i didn't show it
The artist is trying to maintain their stoic exterior, even though they feel deeply hurt by their partner's actions.

and when you couldn't even talk to me at all
The singer feels ignored and disregarded when their attempts to communicate with their partner go unanswered or unacknowledged.

i wasn't bothered, at least you never saw it
The singer is trying to conceal their inner pain and emotional turmoil from their partner, as it is not fitting for men to display vulnerability.

boys can be sad on the inside
Despite societal expectations for men to remain emotionless or stoic, they are capable of feeling sadness and pain in the depths of their hearts.

boys don't cry over petty shit, petty shit
The refrain reinforces the societal expectation that men should not display their emotions, even for frivolous or minor matters.

boys don't even cry over big shit, right?
The societal expectation for men to maintain composure and hide their emotions is so strong that it is believed that men do not even cry over major life events.

and boys never show their emotions in public
The gender norms for men dictate that they are not supposed to express their feelings or vulnerabilities, especially in public settings.

boys can be sad on the inside
Despite the societal pressure for men to conform to emotionally restrictive gender norms, they are capable of feeling sadness and pain internally.

boys can be sad on the inside
The song ends by repeating this phrase to emphasize the struggle that men face to conceal their emotions and uphold societal expectations.