Don't Cry
"Don't Cry" is the sixth track on Angels & Ghosts.
Lyrics
You could feel the time come knocking, knocking at your door
Yeah, he'll give you something, and you'll be begging for more
You're on a crooked road to nowhere, oh honey that's for sure
Ah, it's the same old feeling, you don't have to lie
Yeah, it don't mean nothing, I'm gonna tell you why
Don't cry now, don't cry
Don't you cry girl, it'll be alright
Oh, come on get up from down there, there's dirt on that floor
He's got you in the palm of his hand now,
Like all those times before
You're so lost in your kingdom, your kingdom of fear
Yeah, there's no one out there, no one's gonna appear
Ah, it's the same old feeling, you don't have to lie
Yeah, it don't mean nothing, I'm gonna tell you why
Don't cry now, don't cry
Don't you cry girl, it'll be alright
Remember when I found you praying,
You were down on your knees
Looking for communication, to put your mind at ease
You've got to reach out to someone, I know you'll try
You know I love you more than life itself, I just can't tell you why
Ah, it's the same old feeling, you don't have to lie
Yeah, it don't mean nothing, I'm gonna tell you why
Don't cry now, don't cry
Don't you cry girl, it'll be alright
Don't cry now, don't cry
Don't you cry girl, it'll be alright
Dave's Take
"I throw down lots of ideas in my little studio here with my mate, and I send it back to Rich. For instance, he liked some of the backing vocals I recorded for 'Don't Cry,' and we got a gospel choir together at Electric Lady. We just went in there early in the morning and stayed until the wee hours of the next day, and we pushed them to do everything. We recorded in a pretty old-school way where you've got one chance to get it. There was no luxury of, 'Let's see how you feel tomorrow.' It's like, 'No, we're pushing you, but we've got to get this tonight.' I liked that."1
My Take
Sonically-speaking, this song is pretty standard for Soulsavers; it has the gritty-sounding guitar and a rocky/bluesy feel overall. And Dave's voice sounds pained, like he really feels for the subject he sings about. And who is the mystery subject, anyway? There seems to be two of them spoken about in this song- the girl crying on the floor and the boy/man who has her in the "palm of his hand" among other things. What could it all be about? The girl is someone whom Dave loves "more than life itself," so I wonder if it is his daughter? And thus, it makes me wonder if the "he" spoken about is perhaps a boy who broke her heart somehow? It's a very intriguing personal subject, and I could not dig up anything where Dave talks about the actual meaning behind the song. The words seem to describe someone who is in a very fragile state and it seems to bother Dave that she is wallowing in such a cold and harsh place- namely, a "howling basement" with "dirt on that floor." The contrasting imagery and Dave's attempts to comfort the girl are quite powerful and heart-wrenching.
Music Video
There is no music video for this song.