"Boys Don't Cry" - The Cure

Who created this message?

The song was created by Robert Smith, Michael Dempsey, and Lol Tolhurst, the three founding members of the Cure, a famous English band who played a large role in the popularization of "goth rock" during the 1980s. It was released on their second album in 1979.

What creative techniques are used to attract my attention?

This song is one of my favorites from the band, because of the very distinct "British indie" sound to it. The song talks about a subject nearly everyone can relate to- lost love. The catchy lyrics talk about the way that a boy should act if he wants to be considered a "boy" by his peers and by society as a whole. The singer doesn't agree with this, however, and you can tell this in the emotional, "sweeping" (I don't know how else to explain it-but give the song a listen if you've never heard it, and you'll understand) way that he sings about NOT showing emotions.

How might different people interpret this message differently?

I think people who subscribe to societal norms of gender would not "get" the fact that Smith doesn't agree with the statement "boys don't cry".

What viewpoints or world views are included or left out of this message?

In the song, Smith sings about all the things society accepts from boys when facing a breakup - laughing it off as if it doesn't matter, suppressing emotions of sadness, lying to themselves.. He then alternates, talking about what he would really like to do, if he knew that it wouldn't make society question his "manhood" (begging for forgiveness, admit his faults, etc).

Why is this message being sent?

This message was sent out to show how ridiculous it is to be told that "real" boys can't show emotions of sadness, and to rail against societal norms about what boys are and are not.

Lyrics:

I would say I'm sorry
If I thought that it would change your mind
But I know that this time
I have said too much
Been too unkind

I tried to laugh about it
Cover it all up with lies
I tried to laugh about it
Hiding the tears in my eyes
'Cause boys don't cry
Boys don't cry

I would break down at your feet
And beg forgiveness, plead with you
But I know that it's too late
And now there's nothing I can do

So I try to laugh about it
Cover it all up with lies
I try to laugh about it
Hiding the tears in my eyes
'Cause boys don't cry
Boys don't cry

I would tell you that I loved you
If I thought that you would stay
But I know that it's no use
And you've already gone away

Misjudged your limits
Pushed you too far
Took you for granted
Thought that you needed me more, more, more

Now I would do most anything
To get you back by my side
But I just keep on laughing
Hiding the tears in my eyes
'Cause boys don't cry

Boys don't cry

The music video features three children playing the roles of the members of the band at the time of the song's writing (though the video wasn't made until 1986). The child actors in the video are all young emotionless boys, keeping with the theme of the lyrics. The actual members of the band appear behind a curtain as shadows of the boys, with red eyes which could signify that the result of hiding their emotions is eating them up inside.