“Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin’ ” was written by Joe Greene in 1946 and was later recorded by American singer-songwriter and musician, Ray Charles. The song appeared in his 1959 album, The Genuis of Ray Charles and rose to No. 17 on “Hot R&B Sides” and No. 95 on the Billboard Hot 100. With over 11.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Ray Charles Robinson is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential musicians in history. He was often referred to as “The Genuis” by contemporaries for his ability to seamlessly blend different genres of music together and create a unique sound that was his own. Ray Charles passed on June 10th, 2004 at the age of 73 years old. While many remember Ray Charles as a legendary musician, I remember him differently. I see him not as a musician but rather as an extraordinary individual who had the discipline and grit to overcome any situation whether it was positive or negative.
Ray Charles went blind at the age of seven and experienced chronic hearing loss in the 80’s. From an early age, his passion was always music. While many would have been dismayed to continue their passions of music if they went blind, Ray Charles took the opposite route. Charles preserved and continued to make the most of his life, and this is quite apparent in his recording of “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin’.” His ability to combat his fears and mold his reality into something positive is what I believe allowed him to became so successful, and his mindset is prevalent in this recording.
This song has become a positive beacon for me during my time abroad.
Don’t let the sun catch you cryin’
Cryin’ at my front door
You done daddy dirty
He sure don’t want you no more
It’s ironic that with such sad and sorrowful lyrics, the song has an upbeat soulful tempo that almost exudes a joyful bliss. Its calming and meditative rhythm enables you to ponder the sincere moments that have happened in your life, reflect on the hard times, and envision future life moments. At least that’s what I initially thought and envisioned when I listened to the song over the summer. In fact, this song helped shift my perspective on my study abroad experience and take control over my anxiety and nerves.
I was walking back from the grocery store to my house, and I put in my air pods to listen to music as I made my journey home. That day, I was slightly anxious and nervous about studying abroad. The date for me to leave was creeping closer, and I was unsure about how to handle my nerves. I had planned an obscene amount over the summer; buying all the clothes I needed, making lists of all the things I needed to do, ran errands, etc. However, it didn’t matter how much I planned to ease my conscious, I couldn’t shake my nerves and anxiety. I have never lived anywhere more than 15 minutes from home, and I have never been to Europe. I was planning to fly solo and be away from my college friends. It was daunting and terrifying to take this direction, but I knew that at the end of the day this was the only way I could push myself out of my comfort zone and grow as an individual.
Don’t let the sun catch you lyin’
Lyin’ at my front door
Daddy’s done turned salty
And baby, you made him so sore
I shuffled played through my Spotify music playlist, and the song popped up as a recommendation. I vividly remember that the title “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin’ ” made me think for a second. I tried to think about what the title could mean and after waiting a few minutes for the crosswalk to switch to the walk signal, it dawned on me that the title is a metaphor for life. Even though the lyrics communicate the story of a love that will no longer rekindle and the hurt of one partner trying to let go, it is not strictly associated to a couple. If you dig deeper, the song is about not running to your negative thought patterns and avenues in your life that will prevent you from living the best, most authentic version of who you are.
For example, I analyzed the “Sun” in this song as my study abroad experience. Every person I have talked to has said that studying abroad was the best experience of their life and that they made so many incredible memories and met so many amazing people. This is incredible to hear, however, we cannot also ignore that with new experiences comes fears about the unknown and negative emotions such as stress and anxiety. I spent so many hours over the summer stressing if I had everything organized, if my visa would come in time, and worried about things that could go wrong. I was over-analyzing everything, because I was terrified about the unknown and leaving the comfort of my hometown. These feelings are perfectly normal, and they are a universal experience. There are so many people who undergo the same thoughts and feelings. However, it is important to note that these feelings should not prevent you from pursuing new things and experiences. This is what the “Catch You Cryin'” meant to me – do not let your fears and anxiety about situations unknown prevent you from pursuing and exploring amazing positive opportunities that could help you grow.
I believe that’s why Ray Charles chose to record this song; he understood the importance of shifting your reality into something positive and pushing forward, regardless of the situation. Despite being blind, he became the world’s greatest music legend and played many instruments. His “Sun” was to play music and tell stories, but he did not let his fears about not being able to see prevent him from pursuing his passions and dreams. He accepted the negativity and pain behind these difficult situations and continued forward.
You can cry, cry, cry
Yes baby, you can wail
Beat your head on the pavement
‘Til the man comes and throws you in jail
There will be challenging days when I study abroad; I will be homesick and stressed about travel plans. I will miss my friends and family. I will be worried about what comes next, and that is okay because I am human. But, I will not let my anxiety and fears about the unknown prevent me from having a good time. I will continue onward and enjoy this incredible period of my life. It is an invigorating challenge that will make me stronger and better when I come out of it.
Don’t let the sun catch you lyin’
Lyin’ at my front door
Daddy’s done turned salty
Baby, you made him so sore
We all have a “Sun” in our lives – it’s a dream we have, a goal, an experience we want to live out, etc. And we all have something that is preventing us from fully moving forward to pursue our Sun, whether that be a fear, phobia, insecurity, limiting belief, etc. No one is immune from this, but we are not trapped by it. Ray Charles fulfilled his sun despite being blind, and I want to challenge myself to enjoy my study abroad experience despite my anxiety and nervousness.
Whoa, you know you done me dirty now
And I just don’t want you no more
As I begin my blogging journey, I want you to reflect and think about if there is a “Sun” in your life that you want to pursue and if so, is there a fear or emotion you have that is preventing you from getting there? What can you do to embrace your “Sun” and make the most out of your situations and experiences? We have the power to create the most amazing, positive experiences despite set-backs and negative feelings. I believe Ray Charles set the tone and is encouraging us to follow – that’s why he’s the “Genuis.”
DU Abroad 