Music Review: Justin Timberlake "Cry Me A River"
Justin Timberlake
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Cry Me A River
Album: Justified
Year: 2002
Justin Timberlake scorns his cheating girlfriend in the scathing "Cry Me A River."
The sound of rainfall and operatic "e's" open the single, setting a strained tone. In the first verse, he says she meant the world to him. However, she took advantage of his kindness and began seeing his best friend on the side. Meanwhile, she thought she would continue dating him.
In the pre-chorus, he tells her his best friend talked with him earlier that morning. His friend told him of the fling and apologized. He tells his girlfriend that lying to him is unforgivable. He wants nothing to do with her. As she sobs, he taunts her, saying its an manipulative act.
In the chorus, he says she talked about being in love with him. However, she abandoned him and broke dates to sleep with his friend. She's been calling him constantly, telling him she can't live without him. But he retorts she should talk to the other guys she cheated on him with. Perhaps they will care. He says she crossed the line and ruined any possibility to even consider him an acquaintance. He doesn't feel sorry for her at all.
In the second verse, he says a significant other will not reveal if they flirted with anyone else. They don't want to hurt the person's feelings over something meaningless. However, he points out it went beyond flirting. He had rumors from other friends that something had been going on. He heard that she had been over his house and that he was hanging out with her. He would ask his friend and he would deny it. He didn't believe it. He wishes she would've told him she felt trapped and discussed what happened.
The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.
In the bridge, producer Timbaland says the betrayal can’t be undone and Timberlake doesn't have any choice but to dump her.
The pre-chorus is sung again.
He repeats that he can't sympathize with her at all. He's already dealt with the shame and the embarrassment of learning of her cheating. He'sthrough with the relationship.
He says "cry me a river" almost 18 times to end the single.
During their two-year relationship, Timberlake and his girlfriend fought over some major issues. He thought it was resolved. He had made mistakes and flirted with other girls. It wounded her whenever she saw him touching another girl's hand, even in jest. But once he found out, he stopped. However, sleeping with someone else is a dealbreaker for him. He never thought she would be unfaithful to him and then pretend it never happened.
Timberlake's distant vocals are self-possessed and stoic. He can't even look at her anymore without feeling disgust. He’s upset she couldn’t tell him she wanted out and instead chose to be passive-aggressive about it.
The operatic arrangement unfolds every crack and vulnerability the romance had. It was rife with drama and stress. Timbaland's production is creative and clean. It's one among Timbaland’s best songs.
The emotional "Cry Me A River" is an unexpected but welcome turn from Timberlake.
Album: Justified
Year: 2002
Justin Timberlake scorns his cheating girlfriend in the scathing "Cry Me A River."
The sound of rainfall and operatic "e's" open the single, setting a strained tone. In the first verse, he says she meant the world to him. However, she took advantage of his kindness and began seeing his best friend on the side. Meanwhile, she thought she would continue dating him.
"You were my sun/You were my earth/But you didn't know all the ways I loved you, no/So you took a chance/And made other plans/But I bet you didn't think that they would come crashing down, no."
In the pre-chorus, he tells her his best friend talked with him earlier that morning. His friend told him of the fling and apologized. He tells his girlfriend that lying to him is unforgivable. He wants nothing to do with her. As she sobs, he taunts her, saying its an manipulative act.
"You don't have to say, what you did/I already know, I found out from him/Now there's just no chance, for you and me, there'll never be/And don't it make you sad about it."
In the chorus, he says she talked about being in love with him. However, she abandoned him and broke dates to sleep with his friend. She's been calling him constantly, telling him she can't live without him. But he retorts she should talk to the other guys she cheated on him with. Perhaps they will care. He says she crossed the line and ruined any possibility to even consider him an acquaintance. He doesn't feel sorry for her at all.
"You told me you loved me/Why did you leave me, all alone/Now you tell me you need me/When you call me, on the phone/Girl I refuse, you must have me confused/With some other guy/Your bridges were burned, and now it's your turn/To cry, cry me a river/Cry me a river-er
Cry me a river/Cry me a river-er, yeah, yeah."
In the second verse, he says a significant other will not reveal if they flirted with anyone else. They don't want to hurt the person's feelings over something meaningless. However, he points out it went beyond flirting. He had rumors from other friends that something had been going on. He heard that she had been over his house and that he was hanging out with her. He would ask his friend and he would deny it. He didn't believe it. He wishes she would've told him she felt trapped and discussed what happened.
"I know that they say/That some things are better left unsaid/It wasn't like you only talked to him and you know it (Don't act like you don't know it)/All of these things people told me/Keep messing with my head (Messing with my head)/You should've picked honesty/Then you may not have blown it (Yeah)."
The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.
In the bridge, producer Timbaland says the betrayal can’t be undone and Timberlake doesn't have any choice but to dump her.
"Oh (Oh)/The damage is done/So I guess I be leaving/ Oh(Oh)/The damage is done/So I guess I be leaving/Oh (Oh)/The damage is done/So I guess I be leaving/ Oh(Oh)/The damage is done/So I guess I be leaving."
The pre-chorus is sung again.
He repeats that he can't sympathize with her at all. He's already dealt with the shame and the embarrassment of learning of her cheating. He'sthrough with the relationship.
"Cry me a river/(Go on and just)/Cry me a river-er (Baby go on and just)/Cry me a river (You can go on and just)/Cry me a river-er, yea yea/Cry me a river (Baby go on and just)/Cry me a river-er (Go on and just)/Cry me a river (Cause I've already cried)/Cry me a river-er, yea yea (Ain't gonna cry no more, yea-yea)."
He says "cry me a river" almost 18 times to end the single.
During their two-year relationship, Timberlake and his girlfriend fought over some major issues. He thought it was resolved. He had made mistakes and flirted with other girls. It wounded her whenever she saw him touching another girl's hand, even in jest. But once he found out, he stopped. However, sleeping with someone else is a dealbreaker for him. He never thought she would be unfaithful to him and then pretend it never happened.
Timberlake's distant vocals are self-possessed and stoic. He can't even look at her anymore without feeling disgust. He’s upset she couldn’t tell him she wanted out and instead chose to be passive-aggressive about it.
The operatic arrangement unfolds every crack and vulnerability the romance had. It was rife with drama and stress. Timbaland's production is creative and clean. It's one among Timbaland’s best songs.
The emotional "Cry Me A River" is an unexpected but welcome turn from Timberlake.