Greatest love songs ever: #33 “Cry Me a River”

Younger readers will think “Cry Me a River” was written by Justin Timberlake in 2002. It’s better to say he ripped off Arthur Hamilton’s song title of the same name. Mr. Hamilton composed his song in 1953 and created a catch phrase that is still used seven decades later.

He described how he came up with the idea:

“I had never heard the phrase. I just liked the combination of words… Instead of ‘Eat your heart out’ or ‘I’ll get even with you,’ it sounded like a good, smart retort to somebody who had hurt your feelings or broken your heart.”

Like two earlier entries on this list (“Stormy Weather” and “I’ve Got It Bad, and That Ain’t Good”) this song falls in the category of a torch song. It’s about a relationship gone bad because of one party’s infidelity. And now he (she?) regrets it:

“Now you say you’re sorry for being untrue,

Well, you can cry me a river, cry me a river,

I cried a river over you.”

Yes, indeed, what a poetic way of saying, ‘eat your heart out, chump!’

A phrase like the former says so much more than the latter. Good work, Arthur Hamilton! (As of this writing, the 98 year old Mr. Hamilton is still with us!)

Julie London made the song a hit in 1955:

Now we turn to Mr. Timberlake’s sorry rip-off. It’s a different song, using Timberlake’s inartful lyrics, repetitive vocal line, and irritating electronic riffs (am I showing my age?). It sticks with Arthur Hamilton’s theme of a lover who has cheated on you.

So what does Timberlake do about it? In the music video below, instead of crying a river of tears, he breaks into the ex-girl friend’s house, has sex with his new girl friend as revenge, and smugly departs. Here it is. Feel free to skip it:

Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River”

For the record, Timberlake wrote this song as a rebuke to former girlfriend Britney Spears after their split. Ms. Spears in return asserts in her book that Timberlake forced her to abort the child he fathered with her.

The Roe v Wade generation was corrupted by that awful decision and they don’t know how to write a decent love song.

Contrast Timberlake’s efforts with those of Diana Krall, who covers Arthur Hamilton’s song.

Diana Krall sings “Cry Me a River”

No comparison.

Lost love hurts like hell. That’s why good song writers can tug at our heartstrings. “Cry Me a River” is an outstanding entry to our list of the 52 Greatest Love Songs Ever.

We’re counting down these songs because love is the antidote for abortion, and abortion hurts like hell. The mom. The dad. The baby. The grandparents. The Aunts. The Uncles. The Sisters. The Brothers. The village. The state. the country. the world. ALL of them, ALL of us, are hurt by every single abortion.

Abortion is the denial of love. It is violence against the innocent. It hurts like hell because it is hell, and Satan cheers every single abortion.

Let’s spread a little love today. Share this song. Subscribe to our blog and share our posts on social media.

If you’re a little shy about talking about pro-life matters, simply start sharing these posts. Who doesn’t like a good love song (other than Satan!).

I just looked ahead to next week, and I guarantee: you’re going to love #32 on our list.

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