I listened to Roy Orbison’s music a lot in my youth. I believe I wore out the Essential Roy Orbison compilation record especially today’s featured track Crying. I imagine Crying is one of the most recognisable love ballads in contemporary music. Up to now all of the music that has featured Roy here was part of his time at The Traveling Wilburys. I’m afraid I let his other big hits Only the Lonely and Pretty Woman fall by the wayside, but I’ll make up for it and present them at a later date amongst others. Roy’s operatic vocal style and range has always been monumental and it is no better showcased than in this classic signature song, although Not Alone Anymore to my ears gives it stiff competition.
Crying is a song written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson for Orbison’s third studio album of the same name (1962). Released in 1961, it was a number 2 hit in the US for Orbison. I also like Llorando, the Spanish version of this song in the David Lynch masterpiece Mulholland Drive which I reviewed back in July 2021. In 2002, Crying was honoured with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. In 2010, Rolling Stone ranked it 69th on their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
Crying emerged during a period when Orbison was already enjoying considerable success, but he sought to explore deeper, more poignant themes in his music. It was a departure from the more upbeat rockabilly style that characterized much of Orbison’s early work. Instead, it delved into the raw, unfiltered pain of heartache and loss.
[Verse 1]
I was alright for a while
I could smile for a while
But I saw you last night
You held my hand so tight
As you stopped to say, “Hello”
[Chorus]
Oh, you wished me well
You couldn’t tell
That I’d been crying over you
Crying over you
When you said, “So long”
Left me standing all alone
Alone and crying, crying
Crying, crying
[Post-Chorus]
It’s hard to understand
But the touch of your hand
Can start me crying
[Verse 2]
I thought that I was over you
But it’s true, so true
I love you even more
Than I did before
But, darling, what can I do? (read the remainder here)
References:
1. Crying (Roy Orbison song) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
He was SO good!
Yes, perhaps the greatest male contemporary singer. I recall Tom Petty telling his Mum, ‘I’m in a band with Roy Orbison!’ He said she had thought she had gone to heaven hearing that her son was in a band with the big O.
What an incredible vocalist! Roy Orbison could have sung opera. My first Orbison song I ever heard remains my favorite to this day: “Oh, Pretty Woman.” I love the main guitar riff and the driving drum beat. And, of course, Orbison’s vocals. That said, I also enjoy “Crying” and his work with Traveling Wilburys.
He perhaps could have sung opera, but that’s a bit of a stretch although he had that way in his voice in the contemporary music realm. This may be an urban myth, but I remember reading how Mariah Carey and Roy Orbison had technically the largest vocal ranges of all contemporary singers. It wouldn’t surprise me after hearing Carey’s ‘Hero’.
I think ‘Crying’ was my first song by him that completely wowed me as far as what his voice could do. But ‘Not Alone anymore’ should get more love. ‘Pretty Woman’ is just an exemplary pop song. Did you like the movie of the same name?
Actually, I did. That said, I think after catching it at the movies when it came out, I only watched it once or twice on TV thereafter. It’s been more than 20 years.
You should see it again. I think it holds up remarkably well. More than anything else, what really warmed me inside and why I view it as a stand-out romantic comedy is how the Gere character does a 180 change on his previous (shady?) business dealings to support the old man and his family to build ‘great big ships’. To quote the older gent: ‘I find this hard to say without sounding condescending, but I’m proud of you’. Brilliant.
We saw ‘Pretty Woman’ again recently on cable and my kids loved it and wanted to see it again and again.
Silky voice…smooth….
A gorgeous, heart-wrenching masterpiece by one of the greatest singers of the 20th century.
Yes, he is. Thanks for commenting Jeff.