Hannah Grace and Gabrielle Aplin's "Why Can’t I Cry About It?" is a heartfelt reflection on the contradiction of unexpressed feelings, brought to life by their uniquely harmonious voices.
“Why Can’t I Cry About It?” – Hannah Grace & Gabrielle Aplin
Some collaborations seem destined to happen—not out of predictability but because the artists involved possess such a deep connection in artistry and spirit that their partnership appears preordained. Hannah Grace and Gabrielle Aplin are prime examples of this. Their long-standing friendship has evolved into sporadic creative ventures, and with "Why Can’t I Cry About It?", they present a song that feels both intensely personal and widely relatable.
Released on August 8, the single is part of Grace's newly launched second album, Bigger Picture, and is already being celebrated as one of the year’s most impactful duets. While much of today’s pop music favors polished immediacy, "Why Can’t I Cry About It?" takes a different route: It offers a patient, gentle examination of a deeply human contradiction—the struggle to express emotions when one needs it most.
The world, she breaks, my heart
Tears me down, as she falls apart
All the colors of pain, they all look the same
Can't see the light for the dark
Why can’t I cry about it?
Why can’t I cry at all?
Grace has openly discussed the inspiration behind the song. Penned during an autumn retreat in Nashville in 2023, "Why Can’t I Cry About It?" arose in the quiet aftermath of a challenging personal experience. She recalls grappling with a powerful mix of emotions, yet being unable to release the tears that could have provided relief. This paradox—the awareness of pain without the ability to express it—forms the core of the song's lyrics.
Co-written with Jess and Henry, the song emerges from a writing session anchored in sincerity rather than a formulaic approach. Grace has frequently articulated her belief in the healing power of tears, and this conviction imbues the song with poignant irony. The title is not just a rhetorical query; it encapsulates the haunting, unresolved dilemma at its heart.
As compelling as Grace's songwriting is, the real enchantment of the single lies in the synergy between her and Aplin's vocals. Both singers are recognized for their crystalline vocal qualities, but when they come together, something transcendent happens. Their harmonies shimmer rather than simply merge, akin to two prisms reflecting the same light from slightly different perspectives.
There is a closeness in their singing, suggesting one is providing support for the other. At times, Grace's voice leads with subtle vulnerability, while Aplin's harmonies act as a reassuring presence. At other moments, their roles shift, yet the dynamic remains smooth and devoid of rivalry. It is less a duet and more a conversation, with two voices gently orbiting the same elusive feeling.
The news ain’t breaking through
All the tragedies and terrible truths
Run off my skin like rain again and again
When all I want to do
Is cry about it
Why can’t I cry at all?
The production is wisely minimalistic, allowing their voices ample room to resonate. The arrangement is simple: gentle piano, soft percussion, and a subtle hint of strings. This simplicity demands courage, without any distractions, focusing squarely on emotion.
For many listeners, the song's emotional peak hits during the bridge leading into the chorus. Here, the instrumentation swells, the harmonies grow stronger, and the lyrics take on an almost pleading urgency. The impact is palpable; this is the moment when unexpressed tears seem ready to spill, as the emotional dam strains under pressure.
It’s rare for a song to invoke such physical sensations, but "Why Can’t I Cry About It?" manages to do just that. Your skin tingles, your breath pauses, and you find yourself embodying the very contradiction the song articulates. Ironically, while the narrator bemoans her inability to cry, the listener may find themselves unexpectedly in tears.
What makes "Why Can’t I Cry About It?" so powerful isn't just its lyrical honesty, but its universal relevance. Almost everyone has encountered the frustration of emotional blockage—the strange, numb silence that occupies the space where grief, rage, or yearning should reside. In tackling this topic, Grace and Aplin address a rarely explored theme in music with such honesty.
The lyrics are straightforward rather than poetic, which adds to their strength. By eschewing artifice, the song communicates a shared truth. In a culture that often idealizes emotional release, big cries, and dramatic breakdowns, "Why Can’t I Cry About It?" underscores that the absence of tears can be just as painful.
I think of all the joy, a new sunrise
Good red wine, on summer nights
The future in a child's eyes
It would require a very unfeeling heart not to feel energized by this.
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Hannah Grace and Gabrielle Aplin's "Why Can’t I Cry About It?" offers a heartfelt reflection on the contradiction of unexpressed feelings, delivered through two voices that blend in a unique and luminous harmony.