Beal then signed with Portland's Tender Loving Empire. Calling it a concept album, Noctunes, chonicled the end of his brief marriage. It was released in August of 2015.
Too Dry To Cry
Willis Earl Beal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm just sitting at the table thinking about me
With my moccasins on and waiting by my phone
With my half-masked eyes like a tear-less drone
I am the deep down clown, you better throw me a bone
'Cause I'll be making that sound, when they leave me alone
With the pots and pans, my voice and my hands
And my spoon drumstick, with this innocuous trance
So when I pick out my 'fro I have a place I can go
No no, don't leave me hanging like a spider with no fly
'Cause I've been banging on the walls 'Cause I'm too dry to cry
No no, don't leave me hanging like a spider with no fly
'Cause I've been banging on the walls 'Cause I'm too dry to cry
Photocopied Xerox pictures of dames
With two dimensional faces make me feel ashamed
So I keep 'em tucked away in a folder that's red
But I don't need to look at them, 'Cause they're stuck in my head
They're what I sniff when I tell you to come right along
In my one-room shack, you know we can't go wrong
I got nine hard inches like a pitchfork prong
So honey lift up your dress and help me sing this song
No no, don't leave me hanging like a spider with no fly
'Cause I've been banging on the walls 'Cause I'm too dry to cry
No no, don't leave me hanging like a spider with no fly
'Cause I've been banging on the walls 'Cause I'm too dry to cry
No no, ow no
Don't leave me hanging
The lyrics to Willis Earl Beal's song, "Too Dry To Cry," are a reflection of the singer's insecurities, loneliness, and longing for companionship. The song starts with him describing his appearance - a tweed jacket, trucker hat, cup of tea, and moccasins - and his current state of mind, just contemplating his own existence. He feels like a "tear-less drone" with nothing to do but play his pots and pans, sing, and beat his drumstick. He is asking for someone to give him a chance, to throw him a bone, so he can prove himself, advance his romance and find a place where he belongs.
The singer then goes on to express his sexual desires by talking about his Xerox pictures of women that he keeps hidden but still constantly thinks about. He invites a woman to come to his one-room shack and lift up her dress so that he can have sex with her. The song ends with his repeated plea to not leave him hanging like a spider with no fly, a metaphor for his desperate need for companionship and love.
The song is a raw and honest portrayal of the singer's emotions, using simple yet evocative language to describe his feelings. The use of metaphors, such as the spider and the fly, adds depth to the lyrics, and the repetition of the chorus emphasizes the desperation of his longing. Overall, "Too Dry To Cry" is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to anyone who has ever felt alone or unloved.
Line by Line Meaning
Tweed jacket, trucker hat, cup of tea
I'm sitting at the table, dressed in my comfortable clothes, sipping tea and contemplating about myself
With my moccasins on and waiting by my phone
I'm wearing my moccasins and anxiously waiting for a call
With my half-masked eyes like a tear-less drone
My eyes are half-closed and emotionless, like a machine
I am the deep down clown, you better throw me a bone
I'm the sad and lonely clown inside, hoping for some support and love from others
'Cause I'll be making that sound, when they leave me alone
When I'm alone, I'll express my emotions in my music
With the pots and pans, my voice and my hands
I use kitchen utensils, my voice, and my hands to make music
And my spoon drumstick, with this innocuous trance
I use a spoon as a drumstick and create a relaxing atmosphere
You got to give me a chance to advance this romance
Please give me an opportunity to improve our relationship
So when I pick out my 'fro I have a place I can go
I want to be able to enjoy my life when I style my hair
No no, don't leave me hanging like a spider with no fly
Please don't abandon me like a spider waiting for prey but gets none
'Cause I've been banging on the walls 'Cause I'm too dry to cry
I've been expressing my emotions through my music because I'm unable to cry
Photocopied Xerox pictures of dames
I have printed copies of pictures of attractive women
With two-dimensional faces make me feel ashamed
The women in the photos appear unreal and make me feel guilty
So I keep 'em tucked away in a folder that's red
I hide those photos in a red folder, hoping to forget them
But I don't need to look at them, 'Cause they're stuck in my head
Even though I don't see them, the images of those women are still in my mind
They're what I sniff when I tell you to come right along
I use those imaginary women to entice you to come over
In my one-room shack, you know we can't go wrong
Let's have fun in my small and cozy home
I got nine hard inches like a pitchfork prong
I have a large penis, like a pitchfork tine
So honey lift up your dress and help me sing this song
Let's have sex and enjoy the moment together
No no, ow no
Please don't leave me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Willis Earl Beal
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alemau5195
Tweed jacket, trucker hat, cup of tea
I'm just sitting at the table thinking about me
With my moccasins on and waiting by my phone
With my half-masked eyes like a tear-less drone
I am the deep down clown, you better throw me a bone
'Cause I'll be making that sound, when they leave me alone
With the pots and pans, my voice and my hands
And my spoon drumstick, with this innocuous trance
You got to give me a chance to advance this romance
So when I pick out my 'fro I have a place I can go
No no, don't leave me hanging like a spider with no fly
'Cause I've been banging on the walls 'Cause I'm too dry to cry
No no, don't leave me hanging like a spider with no fly
'Cause I've been banging on the walls 'Cause I'm too dry to cry
@mirandahanson3848
Honestly, thank you Orange is the New Black. He has a fantastic voice and I can't wait to listen to more of his songs.
@flaviamontserrat
EXACTLY!
@9548470cm
Nardwuar interviewed him a few years ago. He's a sweetheart... And I noticed it on OITNB too
@leslietoonces9292
***** As soon as this song started playing at the end of episode 12 I paused it and found it on iTunes, bought it immediately...and now it's on repeat. Kudos to OITNB.
@bibimoreno7875
Same thank you OITNB
@H4rDStyl3F4nTomZ
***** Being a Electronic DJ, music like this is a complete new feeling to me and OITNB made me appreciate this to a level i never thought possible
@connorantul4325
all i see is comments about OITNB.. does anyone know this dudes story? He was a homeless Army veteran living on the streets in Chicago when he would start leaving homemade CD's of his music, recorded on a karaoke machine, around the city with a phone number written on the front that connected to a pay-as-you-go cell phone which if you called he would sing for you on the other end of the call, which is how people ended up finding out about him. Amazing story for an amazing musician.
@comraderieco
thank you for the background. I dont watch the show, so I don't care about it. I wanted to know about the artist. thanks!
@yournamae7544
+Connor Antul k
@emkayMJ18
thanks for sharing that. that's incredible