So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
Now you say you love me
But you cry the whole night through
You can cry me a river
oh yes you're goin' to cry me a river
'Cause I cried a river over you
Now you say you're sorry for being so untrue
You may cry a river
You may cry me a river
I cried a river over you
Yes I did child, yes I did my child
You drove me nearly out of my head
You stood by and never shed a tear
But I remember every word that was said
Oh yes, I remember - never fear
You may cry me a river, c'mon now
Cry me a river
You may cry me a river
I cried a river for you (Oh how I cried)
You nearly drove me out of my own sweethead
You stood by, you never shed a tear for me.
I remember every crual word - everything that was said
Yes I remember, never you fear
You may cry me a river
I cried a river for you
Yes I cried a river for you
Turn back the tide of life, I cried - salty water runnin' down
I cried I love you
I cried I love you
I cried, I cried
You may cry, oh, she may cry now, a river of tears
A river of tears for you
You may cry now, she may cry, oh, she may cry now
You may cry, oh, she may cry now a river of tears
A river of tears for you
I cry you can cry me a river
Lord loves a cheerful giver
C'mon and cry me a river of tears
C'mon now and cry me a river of tears
C'mon now and cry me a river of tears
C'mon now, c'mon down and cry me a river
Now you say you love me
But you cry the whole night through
You can cry me a river
oh yes you're goin' to cry me a river
'Cause I cried a river over you
Now you say you're sorry for being so untrue
You may cry a river
You may cry me a river
I cried a river over you
Yes I did child, yes I did my child
You drove me nearly out of my head
You stood by and never shed a tear
But I remember every word that was said
Oh yes, I remember, never fear
You may cry me a river, c'mon now
Cry me a river
You may cry me a river
I cried a river for you (Oh how I cried)
You nearly drove me out of my own sweethead
You stood by, you never shed a tear for me.
I remember every crual word - everything that was said
Yes I remember, never you fear
You may cry me a river
I cried a river for you
Yes I cried a river for you
Turn back the tide of life, I cried - salty water runnin' down
I cried I love you
I cried I love you
I cried, I cried
You may cry, oh, she may cry now, a river of tears
A river of tears for you
You may cry now, she may cry, oh, she may cry now
You may cry, oh, she may cry now a river of tears
A river of tears for you
I cry you can cry me a river
Lord loves a cheerful giver
C'mon and cry me a river of tears
C'mon now and cry me a river of tears
C'mon now and cry me a river of tears
C'mon now - c'mon down and cry me a river
But you cry the whole night through
You can cry me a river
oh yes you're goin' to cry me a river
'Cause I cried a river over you
Now you say you're sorry for being so untrue
You may cry a river
You may cry me a river
I cried a river over you
Yes I did child, yes I did my child
You drove me nearly out of my head
You stood by and never shed a tear
But I remember every word that was said
Oh yes, I remember - never fear
You may cry me a river, c'mon now
Cry me a river
You may cry me a river
I cried a river for you (Oh how I cried)
You nearly drove me out of my own sweethead
You stood by, you never shed a tear for me.
I remember every crual word - everything that was said
Yes I remember, never you fear
You may cry me a river
I cried a river for you
Yes I cried a river for you
Turn back the tide of life, I cried - salty water runnin' down
I cried I love you
I cried I love you
I cried, I cried
You may cry, oh, she may cry now, a river of tears
A river of tears for you
You may cry now, she may cry, oh, she may cry now
You may cry, oh, she may cry now a river of tears
A river of tears for you
I cry you can cry me a river
Lord loves a cheerful giver
C'mon and cry me a river of tears
C'mon now and cry me a river of tears
C'mon now and cry me a river of tears
C'mon now, c'mon down and cry me a river
Now you say you love me
But you cry the whole night through
You can cry me a river
oh yes you're goin' to cry me a river
'Cause I cried a river over you
Now you say you're sorry for being so untrue
You may cry a river
You may cry me a river
I cried a river over you
Yes I did child, yes I did my child
You drove me nearly out of my head
You stood by and never shed a tear
But I remember every word that was said
Oh yes, I remember, never fear
You may cry me a river, c'mon now
Cry me a river
You may cry me a river
I cried a river for you (Oh how I cried)
You nearly drove me out of my own sweethead
You stood by, you never shed a tear for me.
I remember every crual word - everything that was said
Yes I remember, never you fear
You may cry me a river
I cried a river for you
Yes I cried a river for you
Turn back the tide of life, I cried - salty water runnin' down
I cried I love you
I cried I love you
I cried, I cried
You may cry, oh, she may cry now, a river of tears
A river of tears for you
You may cry now, she may cry, oh, she may cry now
You may cry, oh, she may cry now a river of tears
A river of tears for you
I cry you can cry me a river
Lord loves a cheerful giver
C'mon and cry me a river of tears
C'mon now and cry me a river of tears
C'mon now and cry me a river of tears
C'mon now - c'mon down and cry me a river
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Cry Me a River Lyrics as written by Arthur Hamilton
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Wow...a bit redundant (lyrics) for my tastes, but I love Connor's voice and her music. I believe it's about her leaving a man in her life after he did her wrong. Now he wants her back, but she wants no part of him. She wants him to feel the pain he put her through when he cheated or left her (I can't be sure which). Much of the music of Connor's time was quite theatrical and dealt with love/romance, which is probably why the old black and white movies (that included music) will always be my favorites.