About the song
Crying is a song written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson for Orbison’s third studio album of the same name, released in 1962. The song is a ballad about a man who is heartbroken after seeing his former lover with someone else. The song showcases Orbison’s powerful vocal range and emotional expression, as he sings from a low baritone to a high falsetto.
The song was a hit for Orbison, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. The song has been covered by many artists, including Don McLean, who had a number 1 hit in the UK with his version in 1980. The song has also been recognized as one of the greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone, NME, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Some interesting facts about the song are:
– Orbison claimed to have written the song after an encounter with an old flame who he still loved, but he never revealed her identity.
– Orbison originally wrote the song for another country singer, Don Gibson, and the working title was “Once Again”.
– Orbison recorded the song in one take, without any overdubs or edits.
– The song was featured in the 1996 film Mulholland Drive, directed by David Lynch, who is a fan of Orbison’s music.
– The song was also used in the 2002 film Adaptation, starring Nicolas Cage, as a plot device and a symbol of the protagonist’s emotional state.