Boys Don't Cry (The Cure song)

This article is about the Cure song. For the Plumb song, see Boys Don't Cry (Plumb song). For other uses, see Boys Don't Cry (disambiguation).

"Boys Don't Cry"
Song

"Boys Don't Cry" was the second single to be released by The Cure, released in June 1979. It was released in the UK as a stand-alone single, and was included as the title track on Boys Don't Cry, the American equivalent to Three Imaginary Boys.

History

Written by Michael Dempsey, Robert Smith, and Lol Tolhurst, the lyrics tell the story of a man who has given up trying to regain the love of a woman that he has lost, and tries to disguise his true emotional state by "laughing, hiding the tears in [his] eyes, 'cause boys don't cry".

In April 1986 it was re-released under the title "New Voice · New Mix", in which the original track was remixed and the vocals re-recorded. The new version has not appeared on any subsequent release by The Cure, but can be heard in the music video for "Boys Don't Cry". It was released to promote Standing on a Beach, however the original version of the song appears on the album.

Track listing

1979 release

7" single

1. "Boys Don't Cry" - 2:34
2. "Plastic Passion" - 2:15

1986 re-release

7" single - Polydor - 883 937-7 (FR)

1. "Boys Don't Cry (Resung and Club Mixed Feb. '86)" - 2:38
2. "Pill Box Tales" - 2:54

12" single

1. "Boys Don't Cry (New Voice · Club Mix)"
2. "Pill Box Tales" - 2:56
3. "Do the Hansa" - 2:40

Personnel

• Michael Dempsey – bass guitar
• Robert Smith – vocals, electric guitar
• Lol Tolhurst – drums, percussion

Other versions

Use in film

The song has appeared in:

• The 1998 movie The Wedding Singer.
• A cover version, performed by Nathan Larson, was used as the title song of the 1999 film Boys Don't Cry.
• A cover version, performed by Grant-Lee Phillips, used in the soundtrack of the 2011 film Friends with Benefits.
• The 2006 film Starter for Ten.
• The 2006 French film "I Do", played during Luis's Cure phase.
• The 2008 film Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist as Nick's cellphone ringtone (the band is referenced later in the film as one of Nick's favorite bands).

Chart positions

Chart (1979)	Peak Position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	99

"Boys Don't Cry (New Voice · New Mix)"

Chart (1986)	Peak Position
German Singles Chart	19
UK Singles Chart	22
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	26
French Singles Chart	28