The story centers on a group of delinquents who refer to themselves as "drapes" and their interaction with the rest of the town and its other subculture, the "squares", in 1950s Baltimore, Maryland. "Cry-Baby" Walker, a drape, and Allison, a square, create upheaval and turmoil in their little town of Baltimore by breaking the subculture taboos and falling in love. The film shows what the young couple has to overcome to be together and how their actions affect the rest of the town.
Part of the film takes place at the now-closed Enchanted Forest amusement park in Ellicott City, Maryland. Others take place in the historic towns of Hampden, Baltimore City, Reisterstown, Jessup, Milford Mill, and Sykesville, Maryland.
The film did not achieve high audience numbers in its initial release, but has subsequently become a cult classic and spawned a Broadway musical of the same name which was nominated for four Tony Awards.
In 1954 Baltimore, Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker is the leader of a gang of "drapes", which includes his sister Pepper, a teenage mother; Mona "Hatchet Face" Malnorowski, who is facially disfigured; Wanda Woodward, who is constantly embarrassed by her yuppie parents; and Milton Hackett, Hatchet Face's devoted boyfriend. Walker's ability to shed a single tear drives all the girls wild. One day after school, he is approached by Allison Vernon-Williams, a pretty girl tired of being a "square", and the two fall in love. That same day, Cry-Baby approaches the "square" part of town to a talent show at the recreation center where Allison's grandmother hosts events, and introduces himself to her, who is skeptical of his motives. Cry-Baby invites Allison to a party at Turkey Point, a local hangout spot for the drapes.
Despite her grandmother's skepticism, Allison accompanies Cry-Baby to Turkey Point and sings with the drapes. As Cry-Baby and Allison tell each other about their orphan lives (Cry-Baby's father was sent to the electric chair after being the "Alphabet Bomber" – a killer who bombed places in alphabetical order. While his mother tried to stop him, but also got sent to the electric chair as a result; Allison's parents always took separate flights to avoid orphaning her if they crashed, but one day both their planes went down), Allison's jealous square boyfriend, Baldwin, starts a riot. Cry-Baby is blamed for the fight and sent to a penitentiary, outraging all his friends and even Allison's grandmother, who is impressed by Cry-Baby's posture, manners, and musical talent.
As Lenora Frigid, a loose girl with a crush on Cry-Baby, but constantly rejected by him, claims to be pregnant with his child, Allison feels betrayed and returns to Baldwin and the squares, though her grandmother advises her against rushing into a decision. Meanwhile, in the penitentiary, Cry-Baby gets a teardrop tattoo. He tells the tattoo artist, fellow drape Dupree (Robert Tyree): "I've been hurt all my life, but real tears wash away. This one's for Allison, and I want it to last forever!".
Eventually after performing with Baldwin and the Whiffles, Allison is persuaded by the newly established alliance between the Drapes and her grandmother to stand by Cry-Baby and join the campaign for his release. Cry-Baby is released, but immediately insulted by Baldwin, who after revealing that his grandfather is the one who electrocuted Cry-Baby's father, challenges him to a chicken race. Cry-Baby wins, as Baldwin chickens out, and is reunited with Allison.
The film ends with all watching the chicken race crying a single tear, except for Allison and Cry-Baby, who has finally let go of the past, enabling him to cry from both eyes.
Johnny Depp as Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker
James Intveld as Cry-Baby's singing voice
Amy Locane as Allison Vernon-Williams
Rachel Sweet as Allison's singing voice
Polly Bergen as Mrs. Vernon-Williams
Susan Tyrrell as Ramona Rickettes
Iggy Pop as Belvedere Rickettes
Ricki Lake as Pepper Walker
Traci Lords as Wanda Woodward
Kim McGuire as Mona "Hatchet-Face" Malnorowski
Darren E. Burrows as Milton Hackett
Kim Webb as Lenora Frigid
Stephen Mailer as Baldwin
Alan J. Wendl as Toe-Joe Jackson
Jonathan Benya as Snare-Drum
Jessica Raskin as Susie Q
Troy Donahue as Mr. Malnorowski
Mink Stole as Mrs. Malnorowski
Joe Dallesandro as Mr. Hackett
Joey Heatherton as Mrs. Hackett
David Nelson as Mr. Woodward
Patricia Hearst as Mrs. Woodward
Robert Tyree as Dupree
Robert Walsh as Judge
Willem Dafoe as Hateful guard
Musical numbers
"Women in Cadillacs" – Doc Starkes and The Night Riders *(sung along)* – Cry-Baby
"Gee" – The Crows *(sung along)* – Cry-Baby, Hatchet-Face, Milton, Pepper, Wanda
"Sh-Boom" – Baldwin, the Whiffles
"A Teenage Prayer" – Allison
"King Cry-Baby" – Cry-Baby, Allison, Hatchet-Face, Milton, Pepper, Wanda
"Teardrops Are Falling" – Cry-Baby, Dupree, Prisoners
"Doin' Time for Bein' Young" – Cry-Baby, Prisoners
"The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane" (Director's Cut) – Baldwin, the Whiffles
"Mr. Sandman" – Allison, Baldwin, the Whiffles
"Please, Mr. Jailer" – Allison, Cry-Baby, Company, Prisoners
"Chicken" (deleted scene) – Baldwin, the Whiffles
"High School Hellcats" – Cry-Baby, Allison, Pepper, Company
Cry Baby
The Honey Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
he's such a cry baby x2,
cryin' all the time
(cry baby, cry baby)
My baby,
he's such a cry baby x2,
cryin' all the time
(all the time)
tears fall from my eyes
then my heart starts to fall
don't you realize
(you realize)
My baby,
such a cry baby x2,
crying all the time
When the bad boy looks at me,
everybody knows
Ooo, ouch, my blood turns hot,
right down to my toes
(to mye toes)
Cry baby x3
My baby,
he's such a cry baby x2,
cryin'n all the time
Oh when they tell me his not good,
oh what do they know
Whats bad to them is good to me
He sure makes me glow
My baby,
he's such a cry baby x2,
cryin' all the time
In The Honey Sisters' song Cry Baby, the lyrics describe a relationship where the singer's partner is constantly crying. The repetition of "cry baby" emphasizes this behavior and creates a sense of frustration and annoyance. The singer seems to be used to this behavior, as they state that the baby cries all the time. They also express their own emotional reaction to raindrops falling and admit that their heart starts to fall along with the tears. However, despite the baby's constant crying, the singer defends them and seems to see their behavior as endearing. Even when others criticize the baby, the singer stands by their partner and insists that what may be considered bad to others is good to them.
Line by Line Meaning
My baby,
Referring to a significant other who is emotionally sensitive and frequently cries
he's such a cry baby x2,
He cries often and easily, and it is a notable characteristic
cryin' all the time
Frequently shedding tears and showing intense emotion
(cry baby, cry baby)
This is a nickname or term of endearment for the significant other based on their sensitive nature
My baby,
Referring again to the emotionally sensitive significant other
he's such a cry baby x2,
Reiterating the same point as before, that he cries frequently and easily
cryin' all the time
Reiterating that he shows intense emotion through crying
(all the time)
Emphasizing that his crying is a constant occurrence
Oh when the raindrops start to fall,
When it begins to rain outside
tears fall from my eyes
The artist also begins to cry
then my heart starts to fall
Her emotional state begins to mirror her significant other's
don't you realize
This can be interpreted in different ways, but may be a plea for understanding or empathy
(you realize)
My baby,
Referring again to the emotionally sensitive significant other
such a cry baby x2,
Reiterating that he cries frequently and easily
crying all the time
Reiterating that his crying is a constant occurrence
When the bad boy looks at me,
When a certain type of person looks at her
everybody knows
The attention is noticeable to others
Ooo, ouch, my blood turns hot,
This attention elicits a physiological response in her, perhaps indicating attraction or arousal
right down to my toes
The response is felt throughout her body
(to my toes)
Cry baby x3
Repeating the term of endearment for emphasis
My baby,
Referring once again to the emotionally sensitive significant other
he's such a cry baby x2,
Reiterating that he cries frequently and easily
cryin'n all the time
Reiterating that his crying is a constant occurrence
Oh when they tell me his not good,
When others express disapproval of her significant other
oh what do they know
The singer appears to reject this disapproval and trust her own judgment
Whats bad to them is good to me
The artist has a different perspective and values different traits in her significant other
He sure makes me glow
Despite others' opinions, she is happy with her significant other and feels good around him
Writer(s): Lawrence Robinson, Morgan C. Robinson
Contributed by Jeremiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@LanDred1
My baby,
he's such a cry baby x2,
cryin' all the time
(cry baby, cry baby)
My baby,
he's such a cry baby x2,
cryin' all the time
(all the time)
Oh when the raindrops start to fall,
tears fall from my eyes
then my heart starts to fall
don't you realize
(you realize)
My baby,
such a cry baby x2,
crying all the time
When the bad boy looks at me,
everybody knows
Ooo, ouch, my blood turns hot,
right down to my toes
(to mye toes)
Cry baby x3
My baby,
he's such a cry baby x2,
cryin'n all the time
Oh when they tell me his not good,
oh what do they know
Whats bad to them is good to me
He sure makes me glow
My baby,
he's such a cry baby x2,
cryin' all the time
@ShyheemDAdream
Great song!!!
@corys982
Ain’t nothing wrong with my face I got character
@taijarichey5106
Dont worry about them hatchet face...you're beautiful baby
@LanDred1
My baby,
he's such a cry baby x2,
cryin' all the time
(cry baby, cry baby)
My baby,
he's such a cry baby x2,
cryin' all the time
(all the time)
Oh when the raindrops start to fall,
tears fall from my eyes
then my heart starts to fall
don't you realize
(you realize)
My baby,
such a cry baby x2,
crying all the time
When the bad boy looks at me,
everybody knows
Ooo, ouch, my blood turns hot,
right down to my toes
(to mye toes)
Cry baby x3
My baby,
he's such a cry baby x2,
cryin'n all the time
Oh when they tell me his not good,
oh what do they know
Whats bad to them is good to me
He sure makes me glow
My baby,
he's such a cry baby x2,
cryin' all the time
@KittyCatzawa93
gracias!!!!!
@rockellaagreste
Thanks!
@askovarjorinne9074
Wooooooooov that sisters!!!! 😊😊🎶🎶
@leeanadiaz8463
I love this version but can’t find them in iTunes 😟
@hanismaisarah6677
Leeana Diaz is there any other version?
@leeanadiaz8463
Hanis Maisarah yes the Bonnie Sisters sang this son and is on the soundtrack.. but I’m looking for this version by The Honeywell sisters. I just like that version better