Don’t you take it so hard now and please don’t take it so bad/
I’ll still be thinking of you and the times we had, baby.
Breakups are tough. Even though Axl is singing “Don’t Cry”, the narrative is supposed to be the words spoken by the woman who is breaking up with him. Some of the words are comforting, but most are absolutely not what you want to hear. No one wants to hear “things will be better tomorrow”. Get out of hear with your clichés and truths and let me be miserable and cry. Dammit! Her comments asking for him to remember how she never lied to him are especially brutal. Thanks!?
The song is a standard 80s power ballad: it starts soft and by the end of the song we are rocking. It is a fun formula. We also have the famous guitar solo. How many truly unique guitar solos could you recognize outside the context of the lyrics? 50? 100? Well, this is one of the more recognizable ones. Like most Guns N’ Roses songs the song is heavily guitar driven. The banjo outro is unique.
Lyrics Don’t Cry
If we could see tomorrow, what of your plans?
No one can live in sorrow, ask all your friends
Times that you took in stride, they’re back in demand
I was the one who was washing blood off your hands
Don’t you cry tonight
I still love you, baby
Don’t you cry tonight
Don’t you cry tonight
There’s a heaven above you baby
And don’t you cry tonight
I know the things you wanted, they’re not what you have
With all the people talking, it’s driving you mad
If I was standing by you, how would you feel
Knowing your love’s decided, and all love is real?
Don’t you cry tonight
I still love you, baby
Don’t you cry tonight
Don’t you cry tonight
There’s a heaven above you baby
And don’t you cry tonight
I thought I could live in your world
As years all went by, with all the voices I’ve heard
Something has died
And when you’re in need of someone, my heart won’t deny you
So many seem so lonely with no one left to cry to, baby
Don’t you cry tonight
I still love you, baby
Don’t you cry tonight
Don’t you cry tonight
There’s a heaven above you baby
And don’t you cry tonight
Don’t you cry tonight
I still love you, baby
Don’t you cry tonight
Don’t you cry tonight
There’s a heaven above you baby
And don’t you cry tonight
Songwriters: Duff Rose McKagan / Izzy Stradlin / Matt Sorum / Saul Hudson / W. Axl Rose