Music Review: Sheryl Crow "Can't Cry Anymore"
Sheryl Crow
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Can’t Cry Anymore
Album: Tuesday Night Music Club
Year: 1994
Sheryl Crow purges the unhealthy relationships in her life in the forthright “Can’t Cry Anymore.”
A rational guitar opens the single, setting a decided tone. In the first verse, she says she packed up the necessary things in her boyfriend’s car (which she bought and pays the insurance for) and headed to Austin, Texas where she had always wanted to live. He protests her leaving, but she shrugs it off. She tells him they haven’t spent much time together. When they do, it’s quiet. She came to the conclusion they drifted apart and opted to make a clean break. After settling into her apartment in Texas, she found herself hopeful and excited again. The relationship had soured six months ago. However, she was afraid she couldn’t make it. But after much sobbing and talking with her parents, she was able to cut him out of his life.
In the chorus, she would like to escape to another world and start over. Faking happiness has only masked the problems. Nothing has turned out right. She would like an opportunity to relive important decisions in her life and reverse them.
In the second verse, she realizes that despite making decent money, she still can’t get out of the rut. A rut she was told would be gone once she got a real job. At the end of the day, the money goes towards to bills. She can’t stress out about it any longer. She also has a brother who’s a heroin addict. He’ll call her every so often, asking for money. It’s the only time she hears for him. She hates it for ruining her brother as well as the friends who enable him. She’s resolved not to make him her problem.
The chorus is sung again.
Crow wails that when she solves one problem, at least ten more pop up. She wishes they would go away. The rational guitar returns for a short solo.
In the third verse, she says she could’ve had a job as an accountant, which she originally wanted to do. She wishes things would’ve turned out differently. However, it’s apparent major changes had to be made. She can’t continue to agonize.
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, she explains she’s been wasting time by hoping someone else would fix her life. She realizes it’s up to her to better her life.
In the final section, she says she has to try to find the good in her life.
Over the years, she had gotten used to the pain and let it rule her. She thought it was the way it was supposed to be. She would like to grab control of the problems – her brother, ex-boyfriend (who changed into a jerk), lack of finances – and mold it into how it should be. It would be easy and calm, for once.
Crow’s hardened vocals are weary and disillusioned. She wants to believe her life is going to turn around. But she’s hesitant to hold onto it, lest it fall apart again. The quiver in her voice (it’s as though she’s about to burst into tears), is remarkable.
The astute arrangement severs the damaging emotional ties with a bold snap. It nudges her to move on.
The stark “Can’t Cry Anymore” is an accurate portrait of frustration.
Album: Tuesday Night Music Club
Year: 1994
Sheryl Crow purges the unhealthy relationships in her life in the forthright “Can’t Cry Anymore.”
A rational guitar opens the single, setting a decided tone. In the first verse, she says she packed up the necessary things in her boyfriend’s car (which she bought and pays the insurance for) and headed to Austin, Texas where she had always wanted to live. He protests her leaving, but she shrugs it off. She tells him they haven’t spent much time together. When they do, it’s quiet. She came to the conclusion they drifted apart and opted to make a clean break. After settling into her apartment in Texas, she found herself hopeful and excited again. The relationship had soured six months ago. However, she was afraid she couldn’t make it. But after much sobbing and talking with her parents, she was able to cut him out of his life.
“Took your car/Drove to Texas/Sorry, honey/But I suspected we were through/And I can't cry anymore/Since I left/Been feelin' better, cause that's/What you get when you/Stay together too long/And I can't cry anymore.”
In the chorus, she would like to escape to another world and start over. Faking happiness has only masked the problems. Nothing has turned out right. She would like an opportunity to relive important decisions in her life and reverse them.
“Wouldn't it be good if/
We could hop a flight to anywhere/So long to this life/So much for pretending/Bad luck's never-ending.”
In the second verse, she realizes that despite making decent money, she still can’t get out of the rut. A rut she was told would be gone once she got a real job. At the end of the day, the money goes towards to bills. She can’t stress out about it any longer. She also has a brother who’s a heroin addict. He’ll call her every so often, asking for money. It’s the only time she hears for him. She hates it for ruining her brother as well as the friends who enable him. She’s resolved not to make him her problem.
“(Now I know that)/Money comes in/But the fact is/
There's not enough to/Pay my taxes/And I can't cry anymore/Well, got a brother/He's got real problems/Heroin, no/There's just no stopping him tonight/And I won't cry anymore.”
The chorus is sung again.
Crow wails that when she solves one problem, at least ten more pop up. She wishes they would go away. The rational guitar returns for a short solo.
“It's never ending.”
In the third verse, she says she could’ve had a job as an accountant, which she originally wanted to do. She wishes things would’ve turned out differently. However, it’s apparent major changes had to be made. She can’t continue to agonize.
“It could be worse/I could've missed my calling/Sometimes it hurts/But when you read the writing on the wall/Can't cry anymore.”
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, she explains she’s been wasting time by hoping someone else would fix her life. She realizes it’s up to her to better her life.
“And too much time I've been spending/With my heart in my hands /Waiting for time to come and mend it.”
In the final section, she says she has to try to find the good in her life.
“I can't cry anymore/ I can't cry anymore/I can’t cry anymore.”
Over the years, she had gotten used to the pain and let it rule her. She thought it was the way it was supposed to be. She would like to grab control of the problems – her brother, ex-boyfriend (who changed into a jerk), lack of finances – and mold it into how it should be. It would be easy and calm, for once.
Crow’s hardened vocals are weary and disillusioned. She wants to believe her life is going to turn around. But she’s hesitant to hold onto it, lest it fall apart again. The quiver in her voice (it’s as though she’s about to burst into tears), is remarkable.
The astute arrangement severs the damaging emotional ties with a bold snap. It nudges her to move on.
The stark “Can’t Cry Anymore” is an accurate portrait of frustration.