Big Girls Don't Cry

The Four Seasons

About Big Girls Don't Cry

"Big Girls Don't Cry" is a song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio and originally recorded by The Four Seasons. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 17, 1962, and, like its predecessor "Sherry," spent five weeks in the top position but never ranked in the Billboard year-end charts of 1962 or 1963. The song also made it to number one, for three weeks, on Billboard's Rhythm and Blues survey. According to Gaudio, he was dozing off while watching the John Payne/Rhonda Fleming/Ronald Reagan movie Tennessee's Partner (1955) when he heard Payne's character slap Fleming in the face. After the slap, Fleming's character replied, "Big girls don't cry." Gaudio wrote the line on a scrap of paper, fell asleep, and wrote the song the next morning. However, the now-famous line does not appear in the Ronald Reagan film. According to Bob Crewe, he himself was dozing off in his Manhattan home with the television on when he awoke to see John Payne manhandling Rhonda Fleming in Slightly Scarlet, a 1956 film noir based on a James M. Cain story. The line is heard in that film. 


Year:
1992
103 

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Big girls don't cry
Big girls don't cry

Big girls don't cry-yi-yi (they don't cry)
Big girls don't cry (who said they don't cry?)
My girl said goodbye-yi-yi (my oh my)
My girl didn't cry (I wonder why)

(Silly boy) told my girl we had to break up
(Silly boy) hoped that she would call my bluff
(Silly boy) then she said to my surprise
"Big girls don't cry"

Big girls don't cry-yi-yi (they don't cry)
Big girls don't cry (who said they don't cry?)

(Maybe) I was cru-you-uel (I was cruel)
Baby I'm a fool (I'm such a fool)

(Silly girl) "Shame on you" your mama said
(Silly girl) "Shame on you, you're cryin' in bed"
(Silly girl) "Shame on you, you told me lies"
Big girls do cry

Big girls don't cr-yi-yi (they don't cry)
Big girls don't cry (that's just an alibi)
Big girls don't cry
Big girls don't cry
Big girls don't cry
Big girls don't cry
Big girls don't cry

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The Four Seasons

The Four Seasons are an American rock and pop band who became internationally successful in the mid-1960s. The Vocal Group Hall of Fame has stated that the group was the most popular rock band before The Beatles. Since 1970, they have been known off and on as Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, or simply The Four Seasons. more »

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Written by: Tobias Gad, Stacy Ferguson

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Details
"Big Girls Don't Cry" is a song written by Bob Gaudio and Bob Crewe and originally recorded by The Four Seasons.
Chart Performance
The song was a major success upon its release. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States in November 1962, marking the group's second No. 1 hit.
Brit Award
"Big Girls Don't Cry" also hit No.1 on the UK singles chart, making The Four Seasons the first American band to have three consecutive No.1 hits in the UK.
Unusual Creation Story
'Big Girls Don't Cry' was written after Bob Gaudio allegedly heard his daughter utter the phrase ‘big girls don’t cry’ while watching a movie.
Grammy Hall of Fame
The Four Seasons' original version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002, demonstrating its lasting cultural impact.
Song Misconception
Despite common belief, this song is not linked to the hit by Fergie with the same title. They are entirely different songs with different lyrics and melodies.
Recording Technique
The distinctive drum sound in the song was achieved by recording the drum tracks with a tape loop, a pioneering technique at the time.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by various artists over the years, underlining its enduring popularity. In 1975, country singer Loretta Lynn covered the song and it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country chart.
Licensing in Popular Culture
"Big Girls Don't Cry" has been extensively licensed for use in movies and TV shows, including movies like "Dirty Dancing" and TV shows like "The Simpsons."
Album Performance
"Big Girls Don't Cry" was originally released on the album 'Sherry & 11 Others' which reached No. 6 on the Billboard pop albums chart.

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