Crying Time (Ray Charles)

20 FEBRUARY 1966


Ray Charles reached #5 on the US Billboard chart with 'Crying Time', his biggest hit in three years. This song went to #50 in the UK and won two Grammy Awards in 1967 for 'Best R&B Solo Performance' and 'Best R&B Recording'.

This started out in 1964 as a Country & Western song by Buck Owens, but it failed to chart then. Ray's style was well suited to covering C&W (see 1957's 'I Can't Stop Loving You'), and with this record he had what proved to be his last top ten mainstream Billboard hit of the 1960s. In the 1980s he actually had most of his success in the Country charts.

Released: 1966
Highest chart position: #50 (UK), #5 (US)
Length: 2:53
Writer: Buck Owens
Producer: Sid Feller

Crying Time (Ray Charles)

'Oh, it's cryin' time again, you're gonna leave me
I can see that far away look in your eyes
I can tell by the way you hold me darlin' Oooh
That it won't be long before it's cryin' time

Now they say that absence makes the heart grow fonder (fonder)
And that tears are only rain to make love grow
Well my love for you could never grow no stronger (stronger)
If I lived to be a hundred years old

Oh, it's cryin' time again, you're gonna leave me
I can see that far away look in your eyes
I can tell by the way you hold me darlin'. Yeah now
That it won't be long before it's cryin' time

Now you say you've found someone that you love better (better)
That's the way it's happened every time before
And as sure as the sun comes up tomorrow ('morrow)
Cryin' time will start when you walk out the door

Oh, it's cryin' time again, you're gonna leave me
I can see that far away look in your eyes
I can tell by the way you hold me darlin'. Alright now
That it won't be long before it's cryin' time
(That it won't be long before it's cryin' time)'