Grown Men Don't Cry

Last updated
"Grown Men Don't Cry"
Grown Men Don't Cry.jpg
Single by Tim McGraw
from the album Set This Circus Down
ReleasedMarch 26, 2001
Recorded2001
Genre Country
Length3:55
Label Curb
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Tim McGraw singles chronology
"Let's Make Love"
(2000)
"Grown Men Don't Cry"
(2001)
"Angry All the Time"
(2001)

"Grown Men Don't Cry" is a song written by Tom Douglas and Steve Seskin and recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in March 2001 as the first single from McGraw's 2001 album Set This Circus Down . The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Contents

Content

The song's first verse describes the narrator pulling into a grocery store parking lot. He sees a boy clinging to his mother's legs. Tears of mascara are running down her face like an ice cream cone melting, caused by years of bad decisions. The narrator buys his groceries, comes back out, and returns home. In the second verse of "Grown Men Don't Cry," the narrator describes a dream he had as a 10-year-old boy. In the dream, his elderly father holds his hand. The narrator is comforted by the dream, and reflects on the love and support his father provided during his childhood. When they were talking on the front porch to watch the sunset, he told her that he had a dream that he was a slave to his elderly father's job. Now that his elderly father is gone, he feels like he is still enslaved to that job. The narrator in this story places a red rose on his elderly father's grave. He then talks to the wind, as if his father can hear him. The narrator sat with his wife and children in the third and final verse. They represented everything that he held dear in life. The little girl's parents had gone upstairs and were getting ready for bed. But the little girl said that she hadn't heard her story yet. She lifted her head off the pillows and looked at her father. "I love you, Dad," she said.

Critical reception

Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song an A grade, and he praised the "combination of the vivid imagery and McGraw’s plaintive vocal performance." He also said that the second verse "is so well-crafted, and McGraw delivers it so masterfully that it always surprises me, no matter how many times I hear it." [1]

Chart performance

"Grown Men Don't Cry" debuted at number 30 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for the week of March 24, 2001.

Chart (2001)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [2] 1
US Billboard Hot 100 [3] 25

Year-end charts

Chart (2001)Position
US Country Songs ( Billboard ) [4] 12
US Billboard Hot 100 [5] 78

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Take the Girl</span> 1994 single by Tim McGraw

"Don't Take The Girl" is a song written by Craig Martin and Larry W. Johnson, and recorded by the American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in March 1994 as the second single from his album Not a Moment Too Soon. It was McGraw's fifth single overall, and his first number-one single on the Hot Country Songs chart. It also reached number one on the Canadian country charts and it was a successful pop song, reaching number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<i>Set This Circus Down</i> 2001 studio album by Tim McGraw

Set This Circus Down is the sixth studio album by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released on April 24, 2001 by Curb Records. The album produced four singles, all of which reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim McGraw (song)</span> 2006 single by Taylor Swift

"Tim McGraw" is the debut single by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, who wrote it with Liz Rose for her debut studio album, Taylor Swift (2006). Big Machine Records released the song to US country radio on June 19, 2006. Produced by Nathan Chapman, "Tim McGraw" is an acoustic guitar–led country ballad that incorporates the '50s progression and elements of alternative rock. In the lyrics, Swift's narrator pleads with her ex-boyfriend to remember her every time he hears her favorite song by the country musician Tim McGraw, the song's namesake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying</span> 1996 single by Sting

"I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying" is a song written and recorded by English rock singer Sting, which featured on his fifth album, Mercury Falling (1996). The song was also released as a single, and reached No. 84 in the US. Sting also recorded the song as a duet with American country music artist Toby Keith for Keith's 1997 album Dream Walkin'; this version reached No. 2 in the US Hot Country Songs charts and No. 84 in the US Billboard Hot 100 charts, giving Sting his only country hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faith Hill discography</span>

American country music singer Faith Hill has released seven studio albums, four compilation albums, and 46 singles. All of Hill's studio albums have been certified Gold or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back When</span> 2004 single by Tim McGraw

"Back When" is a song written by Stan Lynch, Stephony Smith, and Jeff Stevens and recorded by American country music singer Tim McGraw. It was released in August 2004 as the second single from McGraw's 2004 album Live Like You Were Dying. The song reached number one on U.S. the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in December 2004 and peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Sleep (song)</span> 2004 single by Clay Walker

"I Can't Sleep" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Clay Walker. It was released in January 2004 as the second single from his album A Few Questions, it peaked at #9 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Walker co-wrote the song with fellow country singer Chely Wright.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Little Girl (Tim McGraw song)</span> 2006 single by Tim McGraw

"My Little Girl" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Tim McGraw that reached the top three on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It was released in August 2006 as the second single from his compilation album Tim McGraw Reflected: Greatest Hits Vol. 2. The song was also featured on the 2006 film, Flicka, which McGraw starred in. It was nominated by the Broadcast Film Critics Association for Best Song in 2006. McGraw co-wrote the song with Tom Douglas, making it the first single of McGraw's career that he had a hand in writing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy)</span> 2007 single by Rodney Atkins

"Cleaning This Gun (Come On in Boy)" is a song written by Casey Beathard and Marla Cannon-Goodman, and recorded by American country music artist Rodney Atkins. It was released in October 2007 as the fourth from his album If You're Going Through Hell. The song became Atkins' fourth consecutive number one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, tying a record for most number ones from a country album since Tim McGraw's Set This Circus Down in 2001–2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everywhere (Tim McGraw song)</span> 1997 single by Tim McGraw

"Everywhere" is a song written by Mike Reid and Craig Wiseman, and recorded by American country music singer Tim McGraw. It was released in July 1997 as the second single from his album of the same name. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 2 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada. Despite reaching Number One on Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks, the song did not appear on McGraw's Greatest Hits album. It did, however, later appear on his second Greatest Hits package, Reflected: Greatest Hits Vol. 2.

Steve Seskin is an American singer, songwriter, and musician whose songs have been recorded by recording artists Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Waylon Jennings, Tim McGraw, Collin Raye, and Mark Wills among others. The debut single from McGraw's Set This Circus Down, "Grown Men Don't Cry", was nominated for a 2002 Grammy award and also garnered the No. 1 position on the Billboard Country Single Chart in June 2001. Seskin also is known for performing at schools in support of the Operation Respect/Don't Laugh at Me project, named after "Don't Laugh at Me," a song he wrote with Allen Shamblin that was recorded by Mark Wills and Peter, Paul and Mary, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let It Go (Tim McGraw song)</span> 2008 single by Tim McGraw

"Let It Go" is a song written by Aimee Mayo, Bill Luther and Tom Douglas, and recorded by American country music singer Tim McGraw. It was released in July 2008 as the sixth single and title track from his album Let It Go. It was his forty-second Top 40 hit on the Billboard country charts.

"My Next Thirty Years" is a song written by Phil Vassar and recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in July 2000 as the fifth and final single from McGraw's album A Place in the Sun. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and it peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Something Like That</span> 1999 single by Tim McGraw

"Something Like That" is a song written by Rick Ferrell and Keith Follesé and recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in June 1999 as the second single from McGraw's album A Place in the Sun. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, and peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it a minor crossover hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angry All the Time</span> 2001 single by Tim McGraw

"Angry All the Time" is a song written by Bruce Robison and first recorded on his 1998 album Wrapped. It was later covered by Tim McGraw with guest vocals from his wife Faith Hill. Released in July 2001, McGraw's version was the second single from his Set This Circus Down album. The song reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nothin' to Die For</span> 2009 single by Tim McGraw

"Nothin' to Die For" is a song written by Lee Thomas Miller and Craig Wiseman, and recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in January 2009 as the seventh and final single from his album Let It Go. It is McGraw's fifty-first chart entry on the Billboard country charts. It peaked at number 5 in the United States, and number 3 in Canada in April 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Old Friend</span> 2005 single by Tim McGraw

"My Old Friend" is a song written by Craig Wiseman and Steve McEwan, and recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in September 2005 as the fifth and final single from his album Live Like You Were Dying. It peaked at number 6 on the country music charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maybe We Should Just Sleep on It</span> 1996 single by Tim McGraw

"Maybe We Should Just Sleep on It" is a song written by Jerry Laseter and Kerry Kurt Phillips, and recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in October 1996 as the fifth and final single from his third studio album All I Want (1995). It peaked at number 4 on the United States Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, while it reached number one on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felt Good on My Lips</span> 2010 single by Tim McGraw

"Felt Good on My Lips" is a song written by Brett Beavers, Jim Beavers, Brett Warren and Brad Warren, and was recorded by American country music singer Tim McGraw. It was released in September 2010 as the first single from his compilation album Number One Hits, and has since become McGraw's 24th Number One hit on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. The song is also included on his 2012 release Emotional Traffic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highway Don't Care</span> 2013 single by Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift featuring Keith Urban

"Highway Don't Care" is a song recorded by American country music singers Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift on vocals, featuring Keith Urban on guitar. It was released to US country radio on March 25, 2013, as the third single from McGraw's first album for Big Machine Records, Two Lanes of Freedom (2013). The song was written by Mark Irwin, Josh Kear and Brad and Brett Warren. McGraw and Swift recorded their parts separately. This is Swift's seventh number one hit on Billboard's Country Airplay chart.

References

  1. CountryUniverse.net Song review
  2. "Tim McGraw Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  3. "Tim McGraw Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  4. "Best of 2001: Country Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. 2001. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  5. "Billboard Top 100 – 2001". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved October 12, 2019.