Cryin' Time
Willie Nelson Wynton Marsalis Lyrics


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Oh, it's cryin' time again, you're gonna leave me
I can see that far away look in your eyes
I can tell by the way you hold me darlin' Oooh
That it won't be long before it's cryin' time
Now they say that absence makes the heart grow fonder (fonder)
And that tears are only rain to make love grow
Well my love for you could never grow no stronger (stronger)
If I lived to be a hundred years old
Oh, it's cryin' time again, you're gonna leave me
I can see that far away look in your eyes
I can tell by the way you hold me darlin'. Yeah now
That it won't be long before it's cryin' time
Now you say you've found someone that you love better (better)
That's the way it's happened every time before
And as sure as the sun comes up tomorrow ('morrow)
Cryin' time will start when you walk out the door
Oh, it's cryin' time again, you're gonna leave me
I can see that far away look in your eyes
I can tell by the way you hold me darlin'. Alright now




That it won't be long before it's cryin' time
(That it won't be long before it's cryin' time)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis's song "Cryin' Time" talk about the inevitability of a breakup. The song is about the bittersweetness of love, where while absence may make the heart grow fonder, it also leads to tears and heartbreak. Nelson sings about the faraway look in his lover's eyes and how he can tell by the way she holds him that she's going to leave him soon. He also acknowledges that his love for her couldn't grow stronger if he lived to be a hundred years old. The lyrics hint at a cycle of heartbreak that has occurred before and is bound to happen again.


The song's bittersweet lyrics are complemented by the jazzy and soulful musical arrangement, with Wynton Marsalis's trumpet providing a mournful backdrop to Nelson's vocals. The song's melody is simple but effective, highlighting Nelson's emotive delivery. The song has a timeless quality to it and has been covered by many artists over the years.


Overall, "Cryin' Time" is a poignant song about the ups and downs of love and relationships. It captures the emotions of heartbreak and the inevitability of saying goodbye to someone you love.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, it's cryin' time again, you're gonna leave me
The singer is aware that their partner is leaving them and it's time for them to cry because they will miss them


I can see that far away look in your eyes
The singer can tell that their partner has already emotionally left and is visually distant


I can tell by the way you hold me darlin' Oooh
The singer can also tell by the way their partner embraces them that they are soon going to leave and bring tears to their eyes


That it won't be long before it's cryin' time
The artist emphasizes that they will soon cry because their partner is about to leave


Now they say that absence makes the heart grow fonder (fonder)
It's commonly believed that being apart from someone makes one's love for them stronger over time


And that tears are only rain to make love grow
Crying is a necessary process that helps love grow and become stronger


Well my love for you could never grow no stronger (stronger)
Despite being apart, the singer's love for their partner is already at its strongest and could never increase beyond that


If I lived to be a hundred years old
Even if the artist were to live to be a hundred years old, their love for their partner would never grow any stronger than it is now


Now you say you've found someone that you love better (better)
The artist's partner claims to have found someone they love more than the artist, which has happened before in their relationship


That's the way it's happened every time before
The artist has experienced their partner leaving for someone else multiple times in the past


And as sure as the sun comes up tomorrow ('morrow)
The singer is convinced that their partner leaving for someone else will happen again just as surely as the sun will rise tomorrow


Cryin' time will start when you walk out the door
As soon as their partner leaves, the artist knows they will cry and feel sad


That it won't be long before it's cryin' time
The singer repeats that they will soon cry because of their partner leaving




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Buck Owens

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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