Stranger Cole was born Wilburn Theodore Cole in 1945 in Kingston, Jamaica, … Read Full Bio ↴Stranger Cole was born Wilburn Theodore Cole in 1945 in Kingston, Jamaica, receiving the nickname “Stranger” because he resembled no one else in his family.

Cole began his recording career with producer Duke Reid, scoring a hit with his 1962 debut, “Rough & Tough,” a full-tilt ska number with a wild harmonica solo. His Louis Jordan revival song, “Run Joe,” was a hit in 1965, and featured members of the Techniques on harmony vocals.

Stranger frequently used duet partners, most notably Millicent “Patsy” Todd and Ken Boothe, and later in his career, Gladstone Anderson (their version of “Just Like a River” is one of Cole’s finest songs), stemming from an apparent shyness in the studio, but Cole developed into a soulful vocalist, and his songs radiate a kid of joyful personality that is rare in most reggae.

Crying Every Night
Stranger Cole Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

These eyes, crying every night, for you)
(These eyes, crying every night, for you)

It takes a long, long time
For you to be mine, Lord have mercy
So don't cry my love
Life is what you make it
So don't ever try to break it

(These eyes) Stop crying over me, darling
(Crying every night) You know, you know
(For you) Our love is true
(These eyes) Stop crying over me, darling
(Crying every night) You know, you know
(For you) Every word I say is true

Wipe the tears from your eyes
And don't cry, no, no, no, no
You know I really want you
I'm gonna pave a way for you and me

(These eyes, crying every night, for you)
You know, you know my love is true
(These eyes) Stop crying over me, darling
(Crying every night) You know, you know
(For you) Our love is true

(These eyes) Stop crying over me, darling
(Crying every night) You know, you know
(For you) Ain't it blue
(These eyes) Stop crying over me, darling

(Crying every night) You know, you know
(For you) Every word I say is true

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Stranger Cole's song "Crying Every Night" are a plea to a lover to stop crying over the singer. The song begins with the repeated line "These eyes, crying every night, for you," which indicates that the singer's lover is upset, but the cause of their sadness is not fully explained. The singer acknowledges that it takes a long time for their lover to be with them, but assures them that their love is true. The singer encourages their lover to stop crying and to focus on making the most of their life together. The final verse provides a sense of hope, with the singer promising to "pave a way" for their love to grow.

The song is a classic in the reggae genre, and features a classic ska rhythm with prominent bass and guitar lines. The song was released in 1965 on the Island Records label, and was an instant hit in Jamaica and the UK. The song has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Elvis Costello and UB40, and is considered a staple of the ska and reggae canon.

Line by Line Meaning

These eyes, crying every night, for you
My eyes are always wet with tears as I think of you

It takes a long, long time For you to be mine, Lord have mercy So don't cry my love Life is what you make it So don't ever try to break it
Our love is a slow process, but please don't worry about it. Don't let sadness overpower you because we create our own happiness in life, there is no need to ruin it

(These eyes) Stop crying over me, darling (Crying every night) You know, you know (For you) Our love is true (These eyes) Stop crying over me, darling (Crying every night) You know, you know (For you) Every word I say is true
Please don't cry over me, my love. You know that our love is real, don't let sadness deceive you. Every promise I make is genuine

Wipe the tears from your eyes And don't cry, no, no, no, no You know I really want you I'm gonna pave a way for you and me
Please don't cry anymore, my love. I want you badly too, and I will work hard to create a better future for both of us

(These eyes) Stop crying over me, darling (Crying every night) You know, you know (For you) Our love is true (These eyes) Stop crying over me, darling (Crying every night) You know, you know (For you) Ain't it blue (These eyes) Stop crying over me, darling (Crying every night) You know, you know (For you) Every word I say is true
Please don't cry over me anymore, my love. You know how genuine our love is. It is sad to see you so blue with tears. I promise that every word I say to you is the truth

Writer(s): wilburn "squiddley" cole

Contributed by Luke C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Dualismo.

48w

Chorus:
These eyes, crying every night, for you
These eyes, crying every night, for you

Verse 1:
It takes a long, long time
For you to be mine, Lord have mercy
So, don't cry, my love
Life is what you make it
So, don't ever try to break it

Chorus:
These eyes
(Stop crying over me, darling)
Crying every night
(You know, you know)
For you
(Our love is true)
These eyes
(Stop crying over me, darling)
Crying every night
(You know, you know)
For you
(Every word I say is true)

Verse 2:
Wipe the tears from your eyes
And don't cry, no, no, no, no
You know I really want you
I'm gonna pave a way for you and me
Chorus:
These eyes
Crying every night
For you
(You know, you know my love is true)
These eyes
(Stop crying over me, darling)
Crying every night
(You know, you know)
For you
(That my love is true)
These eyes
(Stop crying over me, darling)
Crying every night
(You know, you know)
For you
(We'll make it through)
These eyes
(Stop crying over me, darling)