Marty Robbins – Tomorrow’s Just Another Day To Cry: The Weary Acceptance of Perpetual Heartache
To truly appreciate Marty Robbins is to understand his command over the sheer breadth of human emotion. While we remember him for the sweeping drama of his Western sagas and the infectious charm of his Pop-Country hits, it is in songs like “Tomorrow’s Just Another Day To Cry” that his mastery of Honky-Tonk sorrow shines most brightly. This track, originally recorded in the early days of his career, is a classic example of the tear-in-your-beer Country sound of the 1950s. While not released as a major standalone single that commanded a top-of-the-chart position like “Singing the Blues,” it was a significant cut that cemented his place as an artist who could convincingly convey deep, persistent melancholy. It appeared on various early compilations, including his 1957 album, The Song of Robbins, where he focused on interpreting classic Country laments.
The brilliance of “Tomorrow’s Just Another Day To Cry”—penned by Country music giants Merle Kilgore and J. D. “Jay” Miller—lies in its devastating simplicity and its crushing sense of finality. The meaning is not complex; it is a declaration of emotional exhaustion. The singer is not just sad today; he has recognized that his heartbreak is a permanent state. The past has been defined by regret and loss, and the future holds no promise of relief. “Tomorrow’s just another day to cry” is the ultimate, weary acceptance of a life sentenced to sorrow.
The lyrics vividly paint the picture of this unending cycle: sleeping all day just to keep the darkness away, and facing the night with a heart that “aches with a deep, deep sigh.” It’s the kind of song that speaks to the older listener who has experienced the prolonged nature of grief—the knowledge that sometimes, recovery isn’t a quick cure, but a slow, continuous struggle. The melody, in classic Honky-Tonk style, features that driving, almost frantic rhythm often carried by the steel guitar and fiddle. This musical arrangement creates a wonderful contrast: the lively tempo is the frantic pulse of a heart still beating, while the lyrics are the death knell of a spirit that has given up hope.
For those who followed Marty Robbins’ career from his start, this song is a nostalgic reminder of his early versatility and his firm foundation in traditional Country music. His voice, younger and sharper than in his later, crooning years, lends an authenticity to the performance—it sounds like a man truly on the verge of breakdown, but determined to keep standing. He delivers the sorrow not with a gentle touch, but with the raw power of a man fighting a losing battle against his own feelings.
Listening to “Tomorrow’s Just Another Day To Cry” now is like opening a time capsule to a world where emotional honesty was not only accepted but expected in Country music. It’s a song about a profound lack of faith in the future, a belief that the cycle of pain is unbreakable. It’s the soundtrack to every lonely late-night drive or quiet evening spent reflecting on what might have been. It reminds us that while hope is a beautiful thing, there are moments in life where the most honest thing we can do is admit that, sometimes, tomorrow truly is just another day to cry.