Tom Grennan – Boys Don’t Cry. Lyrics Meaning: It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

Ever been in a situation where you felt like you were drowning in emotions, but the world just expected you to put on a brave face and power through? That feeling of having a lump in your throat, wanting to just let it all out, but a voice in the back of your head whispers, “Suck it up.” It’s a heavy, lonely feeling, right? Well, there’s a song that grabs that exact feeling by the collar and looks it straight in the eye. Tom Grennan’s powerhouse anthem, “Boys Don’t Cry,” is more than just a catchy tune; it’s a raw, honest conversation we all need to be having. Let’s peel back the layers and see what this track is really trying to tell us.

Diving into the Heart of “Boys Don’t Cry” by Tom Grennan

Right from the get-go, Grennan throws us into the deep end. There’s no gentle introduction; we’re immediately met with a cry for help. It’s intense, visual, and incredibly raw. You can almost picture someone on their knees, completely overwhelmed.

• Tom Grennan – Boys Don’t Cry : It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
• Tom Grennan – Somewhere Only We Go : Rediscovering a Connection Lost to Time
• Tom Grennan – I Won’t Miss a Thing : A Promise That Echoes Beyond Goodbye

Someone fix me, I’ve been bleeding, bleeding out

I’m in six feet, I’m not fatal, I’m breathing now

This isn’t about a physical injury. He’s talking about an emotional wound that’s been left to fester. The phrase “bleeding out” perfectly captures that sense of losing something vital, of feeling drained and empty. And that line, “I’m in six feet,” is a gut punch. It’s the language of being buried alive, trapped under the weight of it all. But then, there’s a tiny flicker of hope: “I’m not fatal, I’m breathing now.” It’s a declaration that despite feeling buried, he’s still here. He’s survived, but he’s calling out for someone to help him heal.

The Pressure Cooker of Societal Expectations

After that vulnerable opening, the song pivots to the source of the problem. It’s the confusion and frustration of trying to live up to an unspoken, undefined set of rules about what it means to be a man. Grennan isn’t angry; he’s genuinely bewildered, and he’s asking a question that so many have been afraid to ask.

Why? Why? Why?

What do you expect me to be?

Why? Why?

What do you want from me?

This part feels like a direct confrontation with society itself. He’s looking around and asking, “What’s the rulebook here? What role am I supposed to play?” It’s the internal monologue of someone who has been trying to fit into a mold that doesn’t feel right. The desperation is clear when he admits, “And I’m asking ’cause I don’t know.” He’s not being defiant; he’s genuinely lost.

The Toxic Mantra

And then he delivers the line that ties it all together, the lie that’s been passed down for generations. It’s presented not as his opinion, but as a so-called fact he’s been taught his whole life.

‘Cause boys just ain’t meant to cry, to cry

This simple phrase is the “heavy load” he mentions later. It’s the core of the conflict. It’s a suffocating rule that forces boys and men to bottle up their pain, sadness, and fear, because showing those emotions is framed as a failure. The repetition of “to cry” emphasizes how ingrained this message is, almost like a broken record playing in his head.

Unpacking the “Heavy Load”

As the song continues, Grennan reflects on the damage this mindset has caused. He recognizes that he’s been living under the influence of falsehoods, carrying an emotional burden that was never his to bear alone. It’s a moment of clarity, realizing that the strength he was supposed to show was actually just a form of self-inflicted harm.

Did I need saving from the lies that I’ve been told? Ya

Every time I’m broke, I get tired of carrying this heavy load

That “heavy load” is the weight of unspoken feelings, the pressure to be stoic, the exhaustion of pretending everything is fine when it’s not. The song paints a clear picture: this emotional suppression isn’t a source of strength; it’s a path to “breaking” over and over again. It’s an exhausting, lonely journey.

The Moment of Breakthrough

The bridge of the song is where the real breakthrough happens. It’s a moment of quiet introspection and self-awareness. After questioning society, he finally starts to question himself and the behaviors he’s adopted. This is the turning point, where he acknowledges the absurdity of his own emotional self-censorship.

I don’t know why I’ve been hiding my feels

And I don’t know why I’ve been saving my tears

It’s a beautiful and simple confession. He admits that, logically, it makes no sense to hide his feelings or “save” his tears. For what? For who? This realization is the first step toward freedom. It’s him understanding that the rules he’s been following are not only hurtful but also completely illogical.

This song is more than just a sad story; it’s an anthem of liberation. Tom Grennan is giving a voice to a silent struggle, offering a message of hope and validation. The real strength, the song suggests, isn’t in holding back tears. It’s in the courage to be vulnerable, to admit you’re “bleeding out,” and to ask for help. It’s about breaking a toxic cycle and realizing that emotions don’t have a gender. It’s a reminder that it is absolutely, 100% okay to not be okay.

So, what do you think? Does this song hit home for you, or do you hear a different story within the lyrics? I’d love to hear your perspective on what “Boys Don’t Cry” means to you. Let’s talk about it!