That Utterly Crushing Moment of a Broken Heart
Let’s turn the dial back to the late 1960s and early 1970s, a time when television variety shows reigned supreme and a new generation of teen idols emerged to capture the hearts of millions. Among the most prominent of these charismatic performers was Bobby Sherman. With his boy-next-door charm, infectious smile, and earnest vocal delivery, he became a fixture on TV screens and bedroom walls alike, embodying the wholesome excitement of pop music for a youthful audience. Today, we’re revisiting a track that, despite its peppy sound, tackles the raw, undeniable pain of heartbreak: “Cried Like a Baby.”
“Cried Like a Baby” was released in 1970, a peak year in Bobby Sherman’s musical career. This memorable song was featured on his album “Getting Together,” which was named after his popular TV show “Getting Together.” The album was a commercial success, reaching number 90 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, a testament to his immense popularity at the time. As a single, “Cried Like a Baby” performed admirably, reaching number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US. While not one of his absolute highest-charting hits like “Little Woman” (number 3) or “Easy Come, Easy Go” (number 9), its strong Top 20 performance solidified his consistent presence on the pop charts and proved his ongoing appeal to his devoted fanbase. The song’s widespread airplay cemented its place as a quintessential Bobby Sherman tune, instantly recognizable to anyone growing up in that era.
The story behind “Cried Like a Baby” is rooted in the collaborative talents of the songwriting duo Peter J. Nelson and Paul Leka. Leka, in particular, was a notable producer and songwriter, famous for co-writing and producing “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.” For Bobby Sherman, Nelson and Leka crafted a song that balanced his signature upbeat pop sound with a surprisingly vulnerable lyrical theme. The lyrics directly articulate the raw, unfiltered emotional fallout of a breakup, a universal experience that resonated deeply with his largely adolescent and young adult audience who were navigating their own first heartbreaks. Sherman, with his earnest and slightly boyish vocal delivery, was uniquely suited to convey this blend of pop accessibility and genuine emotional pain. The production was clean and energetic, characteristic of the pop sound of the era, but it allowed the underlying sentiment of sorrow to peek through, creating a compelling contrast that made the song memorable.
The meaning of “Cried Like a Baby” is an honest and direct portrayal of the devastating emotional impact of a romantic split. The title itself vividly conveys the intense, almost uncontrollable grief experienced when a significant relationship ends. The lyrics detail the immediate aftermath of a breakup, where the speaker is left reeling, overwhelmed by sadness and unable to compose themselves. Phrases like “You just walked out and left me standing there / I couldn’t move, I couldn’t breathe” capture the shock and paralysis of the moment. The “crying like a baby” isn’t merely a figure of speech; it emphasizes a complete regression to a state of primal pain, where logic and composure are entirely lost. It speaks to the fundamental human vulnerability in the face of rejection and the profound sorrow that can follow the loss of someone deeply cherished. For older listeners, this song evokes potent memories of those first, truly crushing heartbreaks – the ones that felt like the end of the world, even if, with the wisdom of hindsight, they ultimately proved to be a part of life’s journey.
Listening to “Cried Like a Baby” today, it still carries that undeniable pop hook and the infectious energy that defined Bobby Sherman’s sound. Yet, beneath the upbeat tempo and cheerful harmonies, there’s a genuine echo of youthful heartache that remains relatable. Sherman’s vocal performance, while innocent, manages to convey the raw vulnerability of someone truly distraught. The song transports us back to a simpler time of records spinning on turntables and transistor radios tuned to the latest hits, reminding us of our own innocent experiences with love and loss. It stands as a testament to Bobby Sherman’s enduring appeal and his ability to deliver pop songs that, even when exploring themes of sadness, did so with an accessibility and charm that resonated deeply with a generation of listeners.