Behind the Meaning of Journey’s “Who’s Crying Now”

“Who’s Crying Now” was just one hit on Journey’s anthem-filled 1981 album, Escape. The song was penned by Steve Perry on a drive from Los Angeles. Despite how quickly the song came together, it became one of the band’s most enduring songs. Uncover the meaning behind this track, below.

[RELATED: Behind the Album: ‘Escape,’ the Album Where Journey Changed Their Lineup and Kept the World Believin’]

Behind the Meaning of Journey’s “Who’s Crying Now”

It’s been a mystery

And still they try to see

Why something good can hurt so bad

Caught on a one-way street

The taste of bittersweet

Love will survive somehow, some way

“One of the first things we did was a song called ‘Who’s Crying Now,’” Steve Perry once said of the Escape writing proccess. “Driving up from Los Angeles I was in my car, and I always keep a mini cassette player with me. I heard in my head the chorus – I heard the whole chorus. I don’t know where it came from!”

Despite this song seemingly coming together out of thin air, we can analyze the lyrics to find a bigger picture. Perry highlighted a powerful duality in a relationship. While one person might be giving it their all, the other is pulling away–and vice versa. In the end, we’re all left with one question: Who’ll be the lonely one?

One love feeds the fire

One heart burns desire

I wonder, who’s crying now?

Two hearts born to run

Who’ll be the lonely one?

I wonder who’s crying now?

In the second verse, Perry details a stormy fight. The crux of that fight is the same thing that ills many relationships. Neither could change / Their headstrong ways, he sings. Though the star of this song is the ear worm melody, the narrative Perry wrote is strong. It’s as powerful a vignette of relationships as any.

Revisit this Journey hit, below.

So many stormy nights

So many wrongs or rights

Neither could change

Their headstrong ways

And in a lover’s rage

They tore another page

The fighting is worth

The love they save

Only so many tears you can cry

‘Till the heartache is over

And now you can say your love

Will never die

One love, feeds the fire

One heart, burns desire

I wonder who’s crying now?

Two hearts, born to run

Who’ll be the lonely one?

I wonder who’s crying now?

(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)