How To Cry

Song Meaning

“How To Cry” paints a stark picture of a relationship suffocated by emotional repression and deceit. The narrator grapples with a partner who remains stubbornly closed off, unable to express vulnerability. This dynamic forces the narrator to confront a painful truth. The lyrics suggest a profound imbalance: one person learned to lie, not to cry. The central tension stems from the “you” figure's consistent emotional opacity and controlling behavior. The narrator admits to “keep[ing] secrets” from family and friends, bearing the shame of a relationship where they feel “invisible.” There's a sharp irony in the narrator observing, “How amazing that it’s never you / Who lit the fire, burnt the whole house down,” highlighting the partner's deflection of responsibility. The core of the song's emotional punch lies in the stark contrast presented in the chorus: “nobody taught you how to cry / But somebody showed you how to lie.” This isn't just a criticism; it's an insightful diagnosis of emotional stuntedness, suggesting a learned behavior of deception over genuine feeling. This inability to show “all of the feelings” becomes the ultimate “reasons to let go,” culminating in the weary, repeated declaration, “I know I got nothing left.” What makes these lyrics so effective is their unflinching honesty and the narrator's clear emotional arc. We witness a shift from hopeful belief (“I believed you could change”) to a resolute self-preservation, culminating in the powerful line, “God, I’m over me protecting you.” This journey from silent suffering to a decisive break, grounded in the partner's emotional unavailability, resonates as a raw, authentic portrayal of a relationship’s painful end.