Cry Baby Cry
The BeatlesȀ Lyrics
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Make your mother sigh
She's old enough to know better.
The King of Marigold was in the kitchen
Cooking breakfast for the Queen
The Queen was in the parlor
Playing piano for the children of the King.
Cry baby cry
Make your mother sigh
She's old enough to know better.
So cry baby cry.
The King was in the garden
Picking flowers for a friend who came to play
The Queen was in the playroom
Painting pictures for the children's holiday.
Cry baby cry
Make your mother sigh
She's old enough to know better.
So cry baby cry.
The Dutchess of Kircaldy always smiling
And arriving late for tea
The Duke was having problems
With a message at the local Bird and Bee.
Cry baby cry
Make your mother sigh
She's old enough to know better.
So cry baby cry.
At twelve o'clock a meeting round the table
For a seance in the dark
With voices out of nowhere
Put on specially by the children for a lark.
Cry baby cry
Make your mother sigh
She's old enough to know better.
So cry baby cry cry cry cry baby
Make your mother sigh.
She's old enough to know better
Cry baby cry
Cry cry cry
Make your mother sigh
She's old enough to know better.
So cry baby cry.
The lyrics of Cry Baby Cry by The Beatles (original mono) are abstract and surreal, utilizing vivid and complex imagery to create an enigmatic dreamscape. The song is divided into four stanzas, each of which tells a vignette about a group of people in a royal setting. The first verse features the King of Marigold cooking breakfast for the Queen while she plays piano for their children. The second verse has the King picking flowers in the garden while the Queen paints pictures in the playroom. The third verse introduces the Dutchess of Kircaldy arriving for tea and the Duke having problems with a message from the "local bird and bee." The final verse depicts a seance at midnight featuring voices from nowhere.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "Cry baby cry, make your mother sigh. She's old enough to know better." This refrain adds a sense of foreboding to the lighthearted and whimsical imagery of the verses. The line implies that the mothers of the crying babies are wise and perhaps even powerful figures who can see through the illusions of the royal court.
Cry Baby Cry is a surrealistic masterpiece, with lyrics that leave plenty of room for interpretation. One interpretation suggests that the song is about political manipulation and the abuse of power within a monarchy. Other interpretations suggest that the song is simply an ode to childhood innocence and imagination. Regardless of the interpretation, Cry Baby Cry is a prime example of The Beatles' innovative approach to songwriting.
Line by Line Meaning
Cry baby cry
The singer is urging the listener to cry.
Make your mother sigh
The crying should be intense enough to make the listener's mother upset.
She's old enough to know better.
Despite the listener's mother being of advanced age, she is expected to be able to handle the listener's crying.
The King of Marigold was in the kitchen
A character named the 'King of Marigold' was cooking in the kitchen.
Cooking breakfast for the Queen
The King is preparing breakfast for the queen.
The Queen was in the parlor
The queen is in the parlor.
Playing piano for the children of the King.
The queen is playing the piano for the king's children.
The King was in the garden
The King is now in the garden.
Picking flowers for a friend who came to play
The king is picking flowers for a friend who likely came to visit the King and his family.
The Queen was in the playroom
The queen has moved to the playroom.
Painting pictures for the children's holiday.
The queen is painting pictures to celebrate a children's holiday.
The Dutchess of Kircaldy always smiling
The poem introduces a character named the 'Duchess of Kircaldy' who is always smiling.
And arriving late for tea
The duchess is also arriving late for tea, suggesting that she is somewhat of a free spirit or unreliable character.
The Duke was having problems
The Duke is experiencing issues.
With a message at the local Bird and Bee.
The Duke had an issue with communication through the local Bird and Bee network.
At twelve o'clock a meeting round the table
A seance is being held at the stroke of midnight.
For a seance in the dark
The seance was held in the dark, as is common practice in these sorts of gatherings.
With voices out of nowhere
Voices were heard that seemed to come from nowhere.
Put on specially by the children for a lark.
The strange voices were a prank played by the children.
Make your mother sigh
The artist is repeating his request for the listener to make their mother sigh.
She's old enough to know better.
Despite the listener's mother being of advanced age, she is expected to be able to handle the listener's crying.
So cry baby cry cry cry cry baby
The artist is practically pleading with the listener to cry, using repetitive language to emphasize their point.
Make your mother sigh.
The poem ends with a repetition of the previous request for the listener to make their mother sigh.
She's old enough to know better.
Despite the listener's mother being of advanced age, she is expected to be able to handle the listener's crying.
So cry baby cry.
The poem ends with a final repetition of the opening lines, leaving the listener to ponder the meaning behind the song's lyrics.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LENNON, JOHN WINSTON LENNON, PAUL MCCARTNEY, PAUL JAMES MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind