Who's Crying Now

Album: Escape (1981)
Charted: 46 4
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Songfacts®:

  • This was one of the first Journey songs to feature keyboardist/guitarist Jonathan Cain. He had been a member of the Babys before replacing longtime keyboardist Gregg Rolie in Journey. He wrote the song with lead singer Steve Perry.
  • According to the liner notes of Journey's Time3 compilation, Steve Perry wrote the chorus of the song driving from Bakersfield to San Francisco, singing into a cassette recorder. He went to Cain's house, rain pouring down in sheets outside, with the whole song in his head. He hummed the song to Cain and guided him through the piano part. Cain suggested the tune sounded like "A somebody done somebody wrong song" and came up with the line, "Who's crying now?" They finished the song that afternoon. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Kevin - Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
  • Escape was Journey's only #1 album. It contains three other hits: "Don't Stop Believin'," "Stone In Love," and "Open Arms."
  • This was featured on Journey's Greatest Hits album, which has sold over 10 million copies.
  • Cain and Neal Schon left the group in 1989 to join John Waite (also a former Babys member) in Bad English.

Comments: 23

  • Susan from Moncks CornerIt's a Romeo and Juliette story! It repeats itself 40 ish years because people don't read their bible. Shreck, Cinderella, Wizard Of Oz! When god sends you your first true love, that one person is made for you! What is it to gain the "entire world" than to loose your "soul" "your True love"....Before she gives up and moves on....Only to wander in darkness for 40 years to realize she is still in love with the love that couldn't put down his earthly possessions. He lost her because she couldn't wait to feel love only to find out nobody can ever take your first loves place. Live a similar life. In the 80's....Its time for history to repeat itself!
  • Don from Sevierville, TnI think this song has some resemblance to the Deep Purple song "Child in Time" from 1970, which also resembles "Bombay Calling" by It's a Beautiful Day from 1969.
  • Terri from Long Beach, WaSteve did leave the group on bad terms. Neal and Jon felt that they had the right to have a say in Steve's medical decisions. They did not. Steve was upset when they came to him saying that he had to make the decision to have the surgery or they would replace him. THEN Steve found out that they were already auditioning singers. Bad, bad move on their part.

    As for interviews where Steve spoke badly about the other members of Journey, he has very rarely done so. The person who continually says that Steve is doing that is Neal Schon. And it is not based on facts.
  • Terry M from Tacoma Wa.Was that a salami Steve Perry was carrying in his pants? I never liked Journey much, I thought Perry's vocals are way over-wrought, but I have to admit I liked this song, especially the Neil Schon ( formerly of Santana) guitar solo at the end..tasteful and haunting, it proves you don't have to cram a thousand notes in each bar to play great guitar ( get that, Eddie V.H)?
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 12th 1981, "Who's Crying Now" by Journey entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #70; and on September 27th, 1980 it peaked at #4 (for 2 weeks) and spent 21 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #3 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart...
    Was the quartet's 11th Top 100 record and first Top 10 entry; their next two releases would also make the Top10, "Don't Stop Believin'" (at #9) and "Open Arms" (at #2)...
    The song was track three of side one from the group's seventh studio album, 'Escape', and on September 5th, 1981 the album peaked at #1 (for 1 week) on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart.
  • Denise from Pembroke Pines, FlI love the guitar solo at the end. Simple but very haunting and beautiful. Perfect for the song.
  • Jorge from Bronx, NyI was a Journey fan with Greg Rolie,Look in the Future album was grandest,not here in the database,but This tune tops all with Steve Perry.
  • Rick from Belfast, MeJourney has a lot of great songs...but the combination of the keyboards and Steve Perry's haunting voice in whos crying now is tops!
  • Jeff from Kingston, TnIt is sad that Steve had so many issues with the band. I guess they had a problem with his tight pants. Great song with good lyrics, and a cool guitar solo. I take this song as better to fight than to sit in silence.
  • Karen from Manchester, Nh"The fighting is worth the love they save" is one of my favorite lines of ANY Journey song. To me, it says that it's better for a couple to fight it out (NOT hitting or being abusive in any way, but strongly disagreeing) than to sit silently, building up resentment. Basically, a little yelling is better than forced smiles and insincere agreement, which is a lie. At least the yelling is honest.
  • Chip from Stratford, CtNeil Schon does an amazing solo at the end. Definitely one of my favorites. He's an amazing guitarist.
  • Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, Mijonathan Cain is a OLA Fire survivor.This is my favorite Journey song!
  • Oldpink from New Castle, InThis song always takes me back over twenty years ago, to the hour long bus ride to school each morning, with tendrils of snow blowing across the road, when it was playing on the radio.
    Definitely my favorite from Journey.
  • James from San Jose, CaI disagree with most people on here (but I agree with Michelle from Anaheim). I think the song is about two people who remain together when they probably shouldn't be.
  • Courtney from Salt Lake City, UtThis song has a lot of meaning to me at this point in my life. I can truly relate to this song right now. I just found out that the love of my life and soul mate (so I thought) is getting married in less than a month. He has been bitter towards me for the past four years because I "Broke his heart." This song sounds like a couple who know they should be together, but for some reason, they continue to hurt each other because they let their pride guide their hearts. A depressing, yet beautiful song.
  • Landon from Winchester, OhThis songs sounds to me like a man and a woman know they love eachother very much but both of them are struggling to to keep the relationship together. It has a lot of relation with people nowadays who marry but stop loving one another, and don't divorce because they are afraid of what they might do to their kids. This song sounds very depressing, but Steve Perry's voice sounds so silk and pure that the song gains clarity and it has a meaning that everyone can relate to. Why doesn't this song get a little more airplay?
  • Mike from Santa Barbara, CaGiven that Steve Perry left the group on bad terms (and complained about them in subsequent interviews), I can't help but wonder if he'd planned on leaving the group for some time, but stayed as long as he did only for the money.
  • Sara Mackenzie from Middle Of Nowhere, Flluv this song. it seems to be about luv, and how sometimes it can led to the temptations that human beings have, like cheating.
  • Michelle from Anaheim, CaI'm taking a guess at the song's meaning, so if i'm wrong, forgive me.

    I think it's about unhappy love. The couple are always fighting, yet they stay together.
    "One love feeds the fire, one heart burns desire."
    That could mean one person gives in the relationship, but the other is desiring more.

    "So many stormy nights, so many wrong or rights. Neither could change their headstrong ways." Again, they're constantly fighting, they're stubborn, won't give in.

    "In a lovers rage, they tore another page. the fighting is worth the love they save."
    Not sure on that one. Maybe they said harsh things, but they still love each other, so the fighting is worth it if they still stay together.

    Could be that they both don't want to let go.

    I'm probably wrong.
    ah well.
    my favorite journey song.
  • Michelle from Anaheim, CaJourney got a star on Broadway!!!
    It was in an article a few weeks ago. Police had to re-direct traffic, a lot of people showed up for the event.
  • Jeff from Toronto, CanadaDuring an arguement in the studio, an annoyed Neal Schon came up with the guitar 'solo' at the end of the song as a joke, believing it was the cheesiest thing he could play. The rest of the band liked it and it stayed.
  • Josh from C.p, MnWhen Neal Schon and cain left to join bad english bad enlish also had Deen Castronovo who now is in journey
  • Bryan from Colorado Springs, CoJonathan Cain born in 1950. This guy is getting up there.
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