Just Let Me Cry

a song about grief

Sometimes there isn’t really anything you can do but cry and pray. We aren’t ever in control, but we tend to notice that more when something sad happens. We can easily become confused and bitter, and wonder why life hurts like this. I have felt this way before.

I haven’t had very many sad things happen to me in my life compared to most people. I’m blessed and I’m thankful I’ve only had to deal with a small portion of grief. But even what I have gone through was hard, is still sad and doesn’t completely make sense to me. I wrote this song in a time of grief. I was playing the piano and came up with the first lyrics, expressing something I knew well: the feeling of starting to cry in front of someone you trust.

I scribbled down the first verse and played it for my dad, who was in the other room. He really liked it and got inspired to help me. He mainly helped me write the melody of the chorus and gave me some advice about different parts. I’m so glad he did! It helped me and fit what I wanted to say. I finished the lyrics a few days ago. Here they are:

Just let me cry a while, I'll be fine
Holding these tears back has made me blind
I've held them back time out of mind
But now I've let go, I just have to cry

I really don't mind if you see me this way
I'll be alright, I don't like to pretend I'm okay
I don't want you to go, you can stay by my side
I'll be alright in a moment, but first let me cry

Just let me cry a while, I'll be fine
Holding these tears back has made me blind
I've held them back time out of mind
But now I've let go, I just have to cry

Sometimes there aren't any words left to say
Things don't go as we planned, and it hurts to see life slip away
But I know in the end it will be worth the ache
Some things seem even more precious if they can break

One final breath, one beat, one chord
I don't want to feel this way anymore
Life has to change, it has before
I'll take one last look and then close the door.

I see clearer now
I see clearer now
I may not know how
But I see clearer now

I see clearer now
I see clearer now
And I still don't know how
But I see clearer now

I’ve had to pray, I’ve had to give my grief and confusion to Jesus and ask for comfort. I’m learning to find my joy in Him. He said sorrow would be turned to joy. I accept that, and I will trust when sad, confusing things don’t make sense to me. He sees the full picture and He understands every sorrow. And He has cried too.

I started writing songs with words right after some sad things happened in my life. I needed an outlet for all my emotions and writing songs with lyrics helps me process my life now. I’d always tried to write lyrics but had never completed a song that wasn’t either a joke or garbage (or both). But finally, after years of wanting to, I wrote the first song I really liked. It’s called Indigo Road, and I plan to record it sometime soon. After I wrote that, the floodgates broke and I’ve been writing songs nonstop for nearly 6 months now. I hope to post them soon. Make sure to subscribe to hear more!