Harry Can’t Cry
‘I said Harry my friend share your fears
Pour your troubles into my ears
He said No thanks and he pushed back the tears
He’s been fighting them alone now for years and years’
Over Time Harry has reached a tipping point. He’s like river banks on the point of breaking. His conditioning teaches him that to be a Man is to not show emotion. When he can’t hold on any longer he slips into the river only to find he is not alone in his suffering (millions of small drops make a river of rain). He has found a way of connecting without compromising his idea of masculinity but the consequences are devastating.
Lyrics
Harry was staying by the bend in the river, the day the rain came. He said
‘If I start crying I’m never going to stop. I’m like the rain, just like the rain’
I said ‘Harry my friend, share your fears. Pour your troubles into my ears’
He said ‘No thanks’ and he pushed back the tears
He’s been fighting them alone now for years and years
But I’ve never seen this river as high as it is today
If he lets go with the rain we could all be
Washed away, along with his pain
Millions of small drops make a river of rain
It’s like a muscle made of water. It flexes and it strains
And it’s more than these little banks can contain
It’s pulling, it’s pulling and it could carry this whole valley away
Everyone knows Harry, a big strong guy
Who could carry the world, who could lift up the sky
He’s godlike, he’s idolised
But something’s gone wrong along the line
He’s sucked up and soaked up more than his fill
He’s shut up and choked up and that’s why he’s ill
But you’ll never see him cry, you’ll never see him spill
He’s full to the brim and his head’s in a spin
He’s taken it too many times on his chin
He can’t hear his own voice over the din
He wants to resist but the rain is calling him
And I’ve never seen this river as high as it is today
If he tips in with the rain we could all be
Washed away, slipping in with his pain
Millions of small drops make a river of rain
It’s like a muscle made of water. It flexes and it strains
And it’s more than these little banks can contain
It’s pulling, it’s pulling
It’s carrying Harry, it’s carrying Harry
and it could carry this whole valley away