When it comes to music that transcends time and space, few songs resonate as deeply as “Crying,” a collaboration between the legendary Roy Orbison and the captivating k.d. lang. Originally written by Orbison and Joe Melson in the late 1950s, “Crying” quickly became one of Orbison’s defining tracks, solidifying his reputation as a master of the melancholic ballad. However, it was the 1987 duet with k.d. lang that brought this classic into a new era, reminding us that heartbreak is a universal experience, ageless and never out of style.
This poignant version of “Crying” was released in conjunction with the documentary Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll, marking an incredible moment in music history. It wasn’t just a novelty duet; it was a moment of rare emotional alignment between two generations of musical icons. Orbison, at the time in the twilight of his career, and lang, just beginning to emerge as a powerful voice in the music scene, came together to create a hauntingly beautiful interpretation of this well-loved ballad. What they gave us was not a re-imagining, but a reflection of the deep emotional core of the song. They breathed new life into the track, capturing the timeless nature of grief and loss.
A Song That Transcends Time
When we think of “Crying,” we remember the haunting refrain of Orbison’s original recording—a voice full of sorrow, a perfect match for the theme of heartbreak. The song details the painful acknowledgment of lost love, and its words are simple but resonate with the force of deep emotion. “Crying” was never about clever wordplay or narrative complexity; it was about the emotional inevitability of loss. Orbison’s unmistakable, operatic tenor had always conveyed this truth, and in his 1987 duet with lang, it was as if both singers were sharing the same heartbreak.
What makes this version extraordinary is the restraint in the arrangement. The performance doesn’t rush to modernize or update the sound for a contemporary audience. Instead, it honors the song’s simplicity. The sparse instrumental backdrop allows the raw emotion in both singers’ voices to take center stage. In an era where most songs are built on layers of sound and production, “Crying” stands apart as a tribute to the quiet power of simplicity.
Orbison’s Voice: A Life of Loss and Heartbreak
Roy Orbison’s voice, especially in his later years, carried with it a deep history of personal loss and resilience. His life had been marked by tragedy—he lost his wife and two of his children in separate accidents—and these losses were woven into the fabric of his voice. In his performance of “Crying,” Orbison’s phrasing is laden with the weight of experience. When he sings of pretending to be strong in front of a former lover, the lyrics take on an added dimension because of Orbison’s own history of heartache. There’s a vulnerability in his performance that goes beyond the song’s lyrics, making it feel as if he’s reliving his own emotional turmoil.
His voice has always been known for its ability to hit impossibly high notes, but by this point in his life, those notes felt earned. They no longer carried the sense of invincibility that marked his earlier work, but instead a hard-won emotional depth. When Orbison climbs to his familiar upper register in the chorus, it is no longer just a vocal showcase—it is a moment of pure emotional release. The listener can hear the pain and surrender in every note, as if Orbison himself is letting go of the past.
k.d. lang: The Perfect Mirror
k.d. lang’s voice complements Orbison’s perfectly, not by competing with it, but by mirroring its emotional intensity. lang had long cited Orbison as an influence, and it’s clear that she understands the importance of subtlety in this duet. Her voice enters the performance in a way that is almost ethereal—quiet, controlled, yet charged with longing. It’s a study in emotional restraint, and when she gradually steps into the foreground, it feels less like a vocal battle and more like a deep, shared understanding.
Lang’s rendition of the song’s emotional core brings a fresh perspective without overshadowing Orbison’s contributions. Her voice is a perfect foil to his—lighter, but equally expressive. When their voices intertwine in the final moments of the song, the effect is almost overwhelming. The blending of their two distinct timbres creates a sense of shared history, making the duet feel like a conversation between two souls who have experienced the same pain. It’s a moment of vulnerability that transcends any simple musical collaboration—it feels like an unspoken connection between two people who have lived through heartache.
The Power of Emotional Honesty
What sets this version of “Crying” apart from other duets is its commitment to emotional honesty. In an age where music often feels overproduced or too polished, Orbison and lang strip the song back to its core: raw, unadulterated emotion. There are no trendy production tricks, no flashy gimmicks meant to make the song feel more current. Instead, the performance is built on the simple but powerful truth that love, loss, and grief are experiences that never lose their relevance.
“Crying” is not just a song—it is a deeply felt expression of the human condition. Orbison and lang remind us that heartache doesn’t need to be modernized to stay relevant. It is, in fact, timeless. Their duet captures the vulnerability of love, the pain of loss, and the acceptance of emotional defeat in a way that is both profound and universal.
A Legacy of Heartbreak and Healing
Today, “Crying” continues to be celebrated not just as a classic ballad, but as a song that defies time and genre. The 1987 duet between Roy Orbison and k.d. lang is a testament to the enduring power of emotional truth in music. It is a rare moment when two voices come together to create something greater than the sum of its parts. They remind us that some emotions—especially those related to love and loss—are eternal. And when we listen to “Crying,” we find that the pain it expresses is as real today as it was when the song was first written.
Orbison and lang did not try to reinvent the song; instead, they inhabited it, making it their own while preserving its universal message. In doing so, they ensured that “Crying” would remain a song for generations to come—a song that speaks to all of us, no matter when or where we are in life.