Carrie Underwood - Cry Pretty Lyrics
Lyrics
Verse 1
I'm sorry, but I'm just a girl
Not usually the kind to show my heart to the world
I'm pretty good at keepin' it together
I hold my composure, for worse or for better
So I apologize if you don't like what you see
But sometimes my emotions get the best of me
And falling apart is as human as it gets
You can't hide it, you can't fight what the truth is
Chorus 1
You can pretty lie and say it's okay
You can pretty smile and just walk away
Pretty much fake your way through anything
But you can't cry pretty
Verse 2
Oh no, you can't dress it up in lace or rhinestones
It don't matter if you're in a crowd or home all alone
Yeah, it's all the same when you're looking in the mirror
A picture of pain, so let it flow like a river
Chorus 1
You can pretty lie and say it's okay
You can pretty smile and just walk away
Pretty much fake your way through anything
But you can't cry pretty
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Chorus 2
You can't turn off the flood when the dam breaks
When all your mascara is going to waste
When things get ugly, you just gotta face
That you can't cry pretty
Bridge
Oh no, you can't
Ooh, yeah
Chorus 2
You can't turn off the flood when the dam breaks
When all your mascara is going to waste
When things get ugly, you just gotta face
That you can't cry pretty
Outro
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
No, you can't cry
No, you can't cry
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, woo
You can't cry
You can't cry pretty, baby
Oh yeah, woo, woo
No, you can't cry pretty, yeah
Video
Carrie Underwood - Cry Pretty (Official Music Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Carrie Underwood’s 2018 release, "Cry Pretty," serves as a powerful anthem of resilience and vulnerability, offering a perspective that resonates deeply with the human experience, particularly through a faith-informed lens. The song’s narrative unfolds around the public persona versus the private reality of enduring hardship. While outward appearances often project strength and composure, the underlying truth for many is a struggle with pain, disappointment, and the desire for authentic emotional expression. This duality is reminiscent of the scriptural call to acknowledge our inner struggles, as Proverbs 14:13 wisely notes, "Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief." "Cry Pretty" encourages us not to hide from our pain but to confront it, suggesting that true strength lies not in the absence of tears, but in the courage to acknowledge them and process them, even when under scrutiny.
The message of "Cry Pretty" strongly echoes the psalmist's raw honesty in the face of adversity. Like David, who often poured out his anguish and lamentations to God in the Psalms, Underwood’s song gives voice to the universal need to release pent-up emotions. The pressure to maintain a flawless façade, a theme central to the song, is a burden many carry, yet Scripture teaches us the liberation found in transparency and trust. Romans 12:15 exhorts us to "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn," implying that shared sorrow and authentic emotional connection are vital. "Cry Pretty" embodies this by asserting that it’s okay to show the messy parts of life, to shed tears and to feel the weight of circumstances, without shame. It's a reminder that our worth is not diminished by our struggles, but rather our capacity for empathy and connection can be deepened by embracing our vulnerability.
The song’s empowering conclusion offers a profound spiritual truth: that even in moments of deep sorrow, there is a source of strength that can see us through. While the song doesn't explicitly mention God, its core message of finding inner fortitude and the permission to be imperfect aligns with the grace offered in our faith. Ecclesiastes 3:4 reminds us that there is "a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." "Cry Pretty" embraces this multifaceted human experience, advocating for the acceptance of all our emotions. It suggests that by allowing ourselves to “cry pretty,” we are not succumbing to weakness, but rather engaging in a form of catharsis that, when coupled with faith and hope, can lead to healing and renewed strength. This perspective challenges the notion that outward displays of emotion are a sign of defeat, instead presenting them as an integral part of the journey towards wholeness, a journey that God Himself walks with us, offering comfort and the promise of a brighter dawn, as Psalm 30:5 assures, "weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes with the morning."