Boys Don't Cry

## Music Video

"**Boys Don't Cry**" is the seventh track off Camila Cabello's third studio album *Familia*, released in April 8, 2022 through Epic Records. On “Boys Don’t Cry” Camila reflects on how toxic masculinity affects her romantic partner and the consequences it has on their relationship. The song is the most R&B influence Camila dives into on her third studio album, Familia. It also features a fluegelhorn throughout the song.

With a duration of three minutes and forty-three seconds, "Boys Don't Cry" is the longest track on *Familia*.

## Background

"Boys Don't Cry" was the second song Cabello and Scott Harris worked on for *Familia*. They started with the song's hook, which was written on Cabello's bedroom the same day they started writing "Quiet". On March 31, 2022 Cabello posted the final track listing of the album *Familia*, with "Boys Don't Cry" as the album's seventh track. On March 27, Cabello posted a snippet of the second verse of the song on TikTok.

## Composition

"Boys Don't Cry" is a "slow" R&B ballad where Cabello comforts her lover while helping him reconcile with his own masculinity. "Come, my baby, lay your head on me," Cabello repeats in the song's bridge, which *Pitchfork*'s Olivia Horn described as "a gust of cool air" feeling. The song was written in the key of C# Minor in a tempo of 72 beats per minute.

## Live performance

Cabello debuted the song live performing it at *The Today Show* on April 12, 2022.

Camila Cabello - Boys Don't Cry (Live on The TODAY Show)
## Lyrics

I know thoughts you don't want in your head

Are spinnin' round-round-round

I know you got demons from the past

Slowin' you down-down-down

But you don't answer your FaceTime

You never had much of a poker face

It doesn't make you less of a man

You're just human right now

When I'm afraid of the world, when every part of me hurts

You don't know how many times you've saved me

So why you hidin' from me? It's only makin' it worse

I just wanna be close, my baby

Give me your pain, I'll take the weight off your shoulders

Don't be afraid, fall into me, let me hold ya

We weren't made to hold back the rain from the sky

Who ever told you that boys don't cry, boys don't cry?

Hate it when you shut me out

Actin' like it's your shit to figure out

Don't wanna be touched, don't wanna discuss

I get it, I just, uh

Now I'm in my head about what's in your head

Come back to bed, can we talk about it?

It's not stupid, it's not drama

It's just trauma turned to armor

Keepin' you from me, no performing

If you love me, come and touch me, yeah

When I'm afraid of the world, when every part of me hurts

You don't know how many times you've saved me

So why you hidin' from me? It's only makin' it worse

I just wanna be close, my baby

Give me your pain, I'll take the weight off your shoulders

Don't be afraid, fall into me, let me hold ya

We weren't made to hold back the rain from the sky

Yeah, who ever told you that boys don't cry, boys don't cry?

Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah

Boys don't cry, boys don't cry

Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah

Boys don't cry, boys don't cry

Come, my baby, lay your head on me

Lay your head on me, lay your head on me

Come, my baby, lay your head on me

Lay your head on me, lay your head on me (You know I got ya)

Come, my baby, lay your head on me (And you know I'd do anything for ya)

Lay your head on me, lay your head on me

Come, my baby, lay your head on me

Lay your head on me, lay your head on me

Give me your pain, I'll take the weight off your shoulders

Don't be afraid, fall into me, let me hold ya

We weren't made to hold back the rain from the sky

Who ever told you that boys don't cry, boys don't cry?

Ooh-oh

Boys don't cry, boys don't cry

## Credits and personnel

* Camila Cabello – lead vocals, songwriting
* Scott Harris – songwriting
* Ricky Reed – songwriting, production, programming, engineering, drums
* Jonah Shy – songwriting, co-production
* Nate Mercereau – co-production
* Mike Cordone – trumpet, flugelhorn
* Bill Malina – engineering
* James Kirk – assistant engineer
* Manny Marroquin – mixing (at Larrabee Studios, North Hollywood, California)

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Horn, Olivia (April 13, 2022). "Camila Cabello: *Familia* Album Review". *Pitchfork*. Retrieved on April 13, 2022.
2. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (April 1, 2022). "Camila Cabello Reveals ‘*Familia*’ Tracklist: See the List of Guests". *Billboard*. Retrieved on April 8, 2022.
3. ↑ Camila Cabello [@camilacabello] (March 27, 2022). "Out April 8 on the album 🌧🌧🌧". TikTok. Retrieved on April 11, 2022.
4. ↑ "Key & BPM for Boys Don't Cry by Camila Cabello". Tunebat. Retrieved on April 11, 2022.
5. ↑ Larson, Tara (April 12, 2022). "Camila Cabello Nods Britney Spears in Allover Denim & Pumps on ‘Today’". Footwear News. Retrieved on April 13, 2022.