Today’s song is ‘Cry Me A River’. This song was a popular American ‘torch song’, written by Arthur Hamilton. It was first published in 1953 and made famous in 1955 with the version by Julie London.
Arthur Hamilton later said of the song: "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."
A bluesy jazz ballad, ‘Cry Me a River’ was originally written for Ella Fitzgerald to sing in the 1920s-set film, ‘Pete Kelly’s Blues’ (released 1955), but the song was dropped. Fitzgerald first released a recording of the song on ‘Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie!’ in 1961. The song was also offered to Peggy King, but Columbia Records objected to the word ‘plebeian’ in the lyric and its first release was by actress/singer Julie London on Liberty Records in 1955. A performance of the song by London in the 1956 film ‘The Girl Can’t Help It’ helped to make it a bestseller (reaching Number 9 on the US and Number 22 on UK charts). It became a Gold Record, and in 2016, it was inducted by the ‘library of Congress’ in the ‘National Recording Registry’.
Other recordings made were by Shirley Bassey: Barbra Streisand: Dinah Washington: Lesley Gore: Crystal Gale: Mari Wilson and Michael Buble among many others.
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I recall first hearing this song when I was in my mid-teenage years. What is unforgettable to me was the haunting sound of the opening line. The song is about a love betrayed; an experience that is capable of emotionally destroying a person and breaking their heart in two.
From my own knowledge of how one can best deal with emotional trauma, I often found the best start is the shedding of tears. My own reading and work experience tell me that there are many positive physiological reasons for expressing tears created by sad emotion through the eye ducts. Proven benefits are broken down into eight categories:
(1) Crying is Soothing: Research has found that in addition to being self-soothing, shedding emotional tears releases oxytocin and endorphins. These chemicals make people feel good and may also ease both physical and emotional pain. In this way, crying helps reduce pain and promote a sense of well-being.
A person cries for three reasons. The tear ducts constantly secrete basal tears, which are a protein-rich antibacterial liquid that help to keep the eyes moist every time a person blinks.
(2) Reflex also cause tears. These are tears triggered by irritants such as wind, smoke, or eye-watering foods like onions They are released to flush out these irritants and protect the eye.
Emotional aspects also lead to crying. Humans shed tears in response to a range of emotions. These tears contain a higher level of stress hormones than other types of tears. Crying reduce distress and it also elicits support from others.
(3) Crying helps to relieve pain. In addition to being self-soothing, shedding emotional tears releases Oxytocin and endorphins. These are chemicals which make people feel good and may also ease both physical and emotional pain. In this way, crying can help reduce pain and promote a sense of well-being.
(4) Crying may also enhance one’s mood. It helps to lift people's spirits and make them feel better. As well as relieving pain, oxytocin and endorphins can help improve mood. These two chemicals are often referred to as being ‘feel-good’ chemicals.
(5) Crying is known to release harmful toxins and relieves stress. When humans cry in response to stress, it is thought that their tears contain a number of stress hormones and other chemicals; all of which are harmful to the individual when they remain inside the body.
(6) Crying aids sleep. A small study in 2015 found that crying can help babies sleep better. Whether crying has the same sleep-enhancing effect on adults is yet to be researched. However, it follows that the calming, mood-enhancing, and pain-relieving effects of crying above may help a person fall asleep more easily.
(7) Crying fights bacteria. It helps to kill bacteria and keep the eyes clean as tears contain a fluid called Lysozyme. A 2011 study found that Lysozyme had such powerful antimicrobial properties that it could even help to reduce risks presented by bioterror agents, such as Anthrax.
(8) Finally, crying is known to improve one’s vision. The basal tears, which are released every time a person blinks, help to keep the eyes moist and prevent mucous membranes from drying out. As the ‘National Eye Institute’ explains, the lubricating effect of basal tears helps people to see more clearly. When the membranes dry out, vision can become blurry.
So, I hope that you all now appreciate how and why crying is good for you, whether it is sobbing after a traumatic incident, watching a weepy movie or feeling extremely happy or sad. A bereavement, a birth or a wedding can bring out the hankies just as experience, emotion and event can bring on the tears.
I jointly dedicate my song today to Margaret Landsdell who is celebrating her birthday today and lives in Manilva in Spain. Thank you for being my Facebook friend, Margaret and I hope your day is most enjoyable. I also jointly dedicate my song to my good Facebook Friend, Elaine Craven who lives in the South of England. Elaine is known to love all jazz songs. Have a nice day, Elaine. Bill x
Love and peace Bill xxx