Don't Cry Joe

By Joe Marsala
1949

A breakout hit of the postwar years, written by jazz clarinest Marsala and introduced by popular 1940s and '50s crooner Johnny Desmond (pictured). Some believed at the time that the song's lyrics indicated trouble with Marsala's marriage--but actually the songwriter claimed it was meant for GIs returning after serving in World War II to discover their sweethearts had taken up with other men.

Lyrics:

Don't cry, Joe, let her go, let her go, let her go,
Don't cry, Joe, let her go, let her go, let her go.

You got to realize this is the wind-up,
You're gonna feel much better once you made your mind up.
Don't cry, Joe, let her go, let her go, let her go.

So you lost your gal, it's happened many times before,
So you sit and mope like a dope, what's that good for,
Get a hold of yourself, forget her, you lived long before you met her.
There're lots of other girls, so I say,
Don't cry, Joe, let her go, let her go, let her go.
Don't cry, Joe, let her go, let her go, let her go.

You got to realize this is the wind-up,
You'll feel much better once you made your mind up.
Don't cry, Joe, let her go, let her go, let her go.

Take a look around and see just what you're missing,
You'll soon forget your troubles, Joe, if you'd only listen.
So don't cry, Joe, let her go, let her go, Joe, let her go.

Recorded By:

Johnny Desmond
Frank Sinatra
Godron Jenkins
Joni James