I Wish I Had Written “Cry Me a River”
But I didn’t.
Of all the songs in the world, this one is a true survivor. Arthur Hamilton wrote it in 1953 for Ella Fitzgerald, but it was cut from the film it was meant for. A record executive then rejected it, reportedly because he hated the word “plebeian” in the lyrics. Nobody wanted it.
Then Julie London recorded it in 1955 with just a voice, a guitar and a bass. It reached the US Top 10 and became her signature song. And honestly, with so many versions to choose from, hers is still my favorite. There is nothing to hide behind: a smoky, almost whispered delivery that says more than any big arrangement could. Sometimes less really is more.
Since then, hundreds of artists have recorded it, including Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Aerosmith, Diana Krall and Michael Bublé. Each of them made it their own.
Why has it lasted? My theory is that every one of us has been dumped at least once, and two things move human beings more than anything else: suffering and beauty. This song has both.
And here’s the best part: Arthur Hamilton coined the phrase “cry me a river”. Nobody had ever said it before him. Today it’s everyday English, and it all started with one songwriter.
I may not have coined it, but I couldn’t resist singing it. Among all these great voices, I gave it a try too, with my own colors and a few heartbreaks from the past...
Which version is your favorite? Tell me in the comments!
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