Cry Me A River

Justin Timberlake

You were my sun
You were my earth
But you didn't know all the ways I loved you, no
So you took a chance
And made other plans
But I bet you didn't think that they would come crashing down, no

You don't have to say, what you did
I already know, I found out from him
Now there's just no chance
For you and me
There'll never be
And don't it make you sad about it?

You told me you love me
Why did you leave me all alone?
Now you tell me you need me
When you call me on the phone
Girl, I refuse
You must have me confused with some other guy
The bridges were burned
Now it's your turn, to cry

Cry me a river
Cry me a river
Cry me a river
Cry me a river (yeah, yeah)

You know that they say that some things are better left unsaid
And it wasn't like you only talked to him and you know it
Don't act like you don't know it
And all of these things people told me
Keep messin' with my head (messin' with my head)
Should've picked honesty
Then you may not have blown it (yeah)

You don't have to say (don't have to say)
What you did (what you did)
I already know (I already know)
I found out from him (uh)
Now there's just no chance (no chance)
For you and me (you and me)
There'll never be
Don't it make you sad about it?

You told me you love me
Why did you leave me all alone (all alone)
Now you tell me you need me
When you call me on the phone (when you call me on the phone)
Girl, I refuse
You must have me confused with some other guy (I'm not like them baby)
The bridges were burned
Now it's your turn (it's your turn) to cry

So cry me a river (go on and just)
Cry me a river (go on and just)
Cry me a river (baby, go on and just)
Cry me a river (yeah, yeah)

Oh (oh!)
The damage is done, so I guess I be leaving
Oh (oh!)
The damage is done, so I guess I be leaving
Oh (oh!)
The damage is done, so I guess I be leaving
Oh (oh!)
The damage is done, so I guess I be, leaving

You don't have to say (you don't have to say)
What you did (what you did)
I already know (I already know)
I found out from him (uh)
Now there's just no chance (no chance)
For you and me (you and me)
There'll never be
Don't it make you sad about it?

Cry me a river (go on and just)
Cry me a river (baby, go on and just)
Cry me a river (you can go on and just)
Cry me a river (yeah, yeah)

Cry me a river (baby, go on and just)
Cry me a river (go on and just)
Cry me a river (come on baby, cry)
Cry me a river (I don't wanna cry no more, yeah yeah)

Cry me a river
Cry me a river, oh
Cry me a river, oh
Cry me a river, oh

Cry me a river (cry me, cry me) oh
Cry me a river (cry me, cry me) oh
Cry me a river (cry me, cry me) oh
Cry me a river (cry me, cry me) oh
Cry me a river (cry me, cry me) oh
Cry me a river (cry me, cry me) oh
Cry me a river (cry me, cry me)


Lyrics submitted by fallacies

Cry Me A River Lyrics as written by Timothy Z. Mosley Justin R. Timberlake

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Cry Me A River song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

39 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +6
    General Comment

    I was randomly listening to songs today and this one came on. The lyrics hit me like a ton of bricks and I can completely relate to them. My ex didn't really understand how much I loved him despite all the issues he had. He will never know. I was there for him when his life was in a downward spiral and lifted his spirits when he was struggling to stay happy. Once he was situated in his life, he ditched me. I was going through hell in my life and needed him to be there for me like I had been there for him. He literally stopped talking to me from one day to the next. I am ashamed to say that I called him and begged him to call me so that I could get closure. I understood that we were over but I needed to hear it from him. I stayed up all night since he promised he would call. The call never came. For the first time I knew what it was like to be used and have my heart punched out of my chest. I fell apart and suffered from severe insomnia for a week due to my personal struggles at the time and this was made worse by him. To this day, I still have issues with my sleeping habits. He called me a few months after this happened, once I had been nursed by friends and family, and said that he needed me and still loved me. It was too late though. He had no idea how much he had hurt me and how selfish he was. He was not there for me when I was laying in bed at night, exhausted, and couldn't get a wink of sleep. For me, This song perfectly fits that situation. Now it is his turn to struggle and I know I will be okay.

    Isauraon September 15, 2009   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    This song is about how Britney cheated on Justin and made him soooo sad. Justin is very nice. He's sensitive and he gave me 10 new puppies. Justin's kind.

    ILOVEEVERYONEon May 11, 2004   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    IMO this song will be looked back at as a classic in 10-15 years. I think it is Amazing! It's got such a dirty beat and at the same time it has a lot of heart. It's grand because of that opera voice in the background. I think I will listen to this song for the rest of my life.

    Tyler2004durdenon June 30, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    this song is not nearly as much without its excellent video as it is with!

    liv85on October 11, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I love this song. This song is just so powerful and impacting. It's intense and it's liberating. Justin is awesome.. I really appreciate his talent and his drive. Even though he's not 'gorgeous' looking, he is definitely quite sexy and attractive. A lot of charisma. I love listening to this song up SO LOUD!!! its amazing.

    daydreamer1on May 23, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I was emabarassed to like him, but he really is good.

    kmk_natashaon February 17, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I love Justin cos he and my ex kinda gelled into one on a drunken night so whenever I hear his songs I think of my awesome time with him...I don't care if its about Britney or not...I think its an awesoem song on its own without the video or scandal..

    pink_smartie_69on February 23, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    everyone whos seen the video knows who this song is about! :P

    Hannie84on April 19, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ILOVEEVERYONE that is not true stop lying

    rapchickslideon October 09, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i like the remix

    babygrl814on March 06, 2005   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Ave Grave
Thee More Shallows
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.
Album art
Step
Ministry
Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.