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The Sound of Your Cry

Rating:
4.1 / 5

Words & Music: Bill Giant Bernie Baum Florence Kaye

The clock by the bed is ticking too loud in the quiet night
I lie in the darkness thinking I must go before it's light
Before you open up your eyes and you beg me to stay
I'll leave 'cause I can't stand to see you hurt this way
Sleep my love as I kiss you goodbye
Then I won't hear the sound of your cry

Though I knew the time was coming and our love would end somehow
I just couldn't bear to tell you exactly just when or how
I know we can't go on, that it was wrong to start
But if you wake up crying now, you know you'll break my heart
Sleep my love as I kiss you goodbye
Then I won't hear the sound of your cry

Sleep my love as I kiss you goodbye
Then I won't hear the sound of your cry

Ohhhh, Sleep my love as I kiss you, kiss you, kiss you goodbye
Then I won't hear the sound of your cry

Ohhhh, Sleep my love as I kiss you

Recordingdate: 1970/06/04, first released on: single (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of The Sound of Your Cry:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(organ)
(harmonica)
(marimba)

Others*

(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(percussion)
(clarinet)
(sax)
(sax)
(sax)
(sax)
(trumpet)
(trumpet)
(cello)
(cello)
(cello)
(viola)
(viola)
(viola)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)

*Orchestra, overdubs

Availability

Find available albums with The Sound of Your Cry.

Lex wrote on January 09, 2009
One of those songs that I really can hear over and over again.
Deano1 wrote on March 20, 2010
The most under appreciated Elvis song from the great June of 1970 recording sessions and perhaps his career. This song was released/buried on the flipside of "It's Only Love" in '71 and was not released on a LP until the 1981 LP "Elvis' Greatest Hits" (The "Elvis Aron Presley" eight record set in 1980 that included lost singles even missed it!). Elvis sings this one masterfully and it is much better than "Rags To Riches" and "Where Did They Go, Lord" (another single release in '71). This song deserved a spot on the album "Love Letters From Elvis" or "Elvis Now". It would have been a highlight on either LP.
NONE000000 wrote on May 15, 2010
What a GREAT song! I'd love to hear a live version, but I assume one does not exist, which is a shame. I have heard the criticism that this is "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" rewritten and also that it really needs another verse instead of quite so many "sleeeeeeep, my loooove"s at the end. And yeah, the song's "plot" is the same as "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" and yeah, another verse would have been great. But regardless, this song--as is--is fantastic and deserves to have been heard by more people. Elvis' voice is perfection in this. He nails the big towering parts as well as the intimate opening lines. And the percussion is great as well, mimicking the ticking clock mentioned in line 1. I am sure some will consider this song too over-the-top for Elvis, like "My Boy" or "Sylvia" or "Padre", and while it is certainly in the same vein as those tracks, I love them all and this one especially. I love good ol' rock and roll as much as anybody, but Elvis' voice deserved songs like this sometimes, where he could really knock it out of the park! ("Impossible Dream". "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "My Way" and "Hurt" also fit this mold. Also "Surrender", "Now or Never" and "Heart of Rome". Great songs one and all!)
Rob Wanders wrote on June 07, 2010
One of my all time favourites. It's such a beautiful melody. The mastertake, that came out as single is superb. I'm not so keen on some outtakes of this song where Elvis is going way over the top. He should have sung it in a lower key (1/2 tone lower), it would have been easier for his voice. Nevertheless the single is fantastic.
Pedro Nuno wrote on June 07, 2010
A great song with Elvis giving a powerful rendition. Obviously I was not thinking of Giant/ Baum/ Kaye, when I wrote my last sentence, I was thinking of Tepper/Bennet.
old shep wrote on June 07, 2010
I much prefer take 3 of this session, the song is well sung by Elvis and perhaps should have received more recognition.
Sparky wrote on June 07, 2010
Great track, especially take 3, which really shows the range that Elvis had. His phrasing on the first two verses is astounding. Not so keen on the single, but love the outtakes on this one. Gets 4 stars for take 3!
shoesuedeblues wrote on June 07, 2010
Take 3 is the recording I mostly listen too, the song is good but not single material I would say.
JerryNodak wrote on June 07, 2010
Love this song. Love those over-the-top, big-voiced ballads Elvis favored in the '70s. I often turn the "repeat" button on.
tornado wrote on June 08, 2010
I'm leaving was to me a far better choice, much more innovative from that period. Like It's Midnight, among others, the soft part of the begining touches me deeply but the end part is too loud and breaks the charm. Elvis liked to test his voice and in the 70's he really pushed it to the limit wich was great in certain case like Birdge Over Troubled Water, Hurt, Unchained Melody, Tomorrow Never Comes (almost), My Boy... . Power song as I called them. The more it went it's like if he wanted to blow it. I prefer Loving Arms with the sublime peak in the middle and the end quiet and low.
GEORGE (GK) wrote on July 27, 2012
I always loved this song. The outake on the boxset "Platinum" is even better ! The emotion, and the power, in his voice, is amazing ! "The sound of your cry" was the "B" side to the song /single "It's Only Love" and both sides should have been huge on radio, but, it wasn't to be, when it was released in 1971.
dgirl wrote on July 27, 2012
Great song, great melody. That is until the end, where it all gets blown out of proportion.
Biffx wrote on July 27, 2012
could listen to the first couple of verses of this track all day long unfortunatly it becomes a little overblown at the end. Had the makings of a real gem initially but still ok though.
Gorse wrote on December 08, 2012
Yes take 3 is slightly better than the released master. Contemporary feel for the times which for me started with Kentucky Rain, and a taste I gradually acquired. I also like overblown endings and grandstand finishes so this does for me, a nice production all round.
sugartummy wrote on May 20, 2013
Listening to the Master and then take 3, it sounds like another singer. I prefer the Master. Elvis sounds better on that one. A truly beautiful song, sung really strong.
Jerome wrote on February 27, 2014
Some a whining about that the early takes, such as take 3, is over the top.. But listen to the violins eventually on the master. I think Elvis blowed another tv after listening to the final production...
ElvisSacramento wrote on February 27, 2014
This is such a tremendous, underrated and overlooked song and Elvis' rendition of it was fabulous. I've never skipped it whenever it's been playing. Five stars from me.
Cruiser621 wrote on December 12, 2018
2-stars. Not one of my favorites. Way too overblown is an understatement which seemed to prevail during his 1970's output.
Cruiser621 wrote on December 12, 2018
2-stars. Not one of my favorites. Way too overblown is an understatement which seemed to prevail during his 1970's output.
bajo wrote on May 01, 2020
Both The Sound Of Your Cry and Fool, open so gently and really show some promise! Whatever happened to Elvis during those overblown ballad years is beyond me. The ending of those two songs ruined my listening pleasure for both. The feel he had for dramatic ballads were blown away by overpower! Sad to say, but The Sound Of Your Cry is not well received by these ears. How on earth could it end up as a single side?
Steve V wrote on August 24, 2021
Overrated, overblown, oversung and the ending is cringe worthy, This is what the 70's became. Also, I dont care for this arrangement. Perhaps taken at a more simple approach may have worked better (1969 anyone?) because the song itself isnt too bad. The beautiful ballad voice of the early 60's was replaced by this bombast approach which seemed to get worse every year.
jaques marcello wrote on August 24, 2021
This song is one of my favorites, especially the versions of the cd Love Letters/FTD
Lp fan only wrote on December 16, 2021
Amazing song! I wished he would have sung it live. One of the most underappreciated songs from june 1970. 5 stars.
Jeoliverm wrote on December 17, 2021
I love it. I stick to the unedited master released by Joan Deary in the 1981 "Greatest Hits volume 1". Anyway, yes it's oveblown, for sure she woke up before he left with such kind of shouting.
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