Mersey Beat

The song “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” by Gerry and The Pacemakers is how love can be a heartbreaking business, but, perhaps, you can love again. The song was written by Gerry Mardsen and the other Pacemakers, who were Freddie Marsden, Les Chadwick, and Les Maguire. It is quintessential sixties British Invasion music. The song by Gerry and The Pacemakers was first recorded by Louise Cordet, who had toured with them as well as The Beatles in 1964. However, the group then decided to record their own version of “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying.” It was produced by George Martin, the English producer, arranger, musician, composer for many artists — including The Beatles, of course. The Beatles connection continues, as Gerry and The Pacemakers were the second group signed to Brian Epstein, who also managed the Fab Four. “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” went to #6 on the U.K. Singles Chart and rose to #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. Gerry and The Pacemakers sang this when they made their debut on U.S. TV on The Ed Sullivan Show in May, 1964. There have been a number of covers of the song, including versions by Steve Lawrence, José Feliciano, Rickie Lee Jones, Gloria Estefan, and Paul Carrack.

(Note: There had been a song before this one by Gerry and The Pacemakers that was titled “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin’.” It was written by Joe Greene and recorded by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five in 1946. In that song, the lady has done the singer wrong, and he does not want her any more. There were covers of that song by Ray Charles, Jackie DeShannon, Paul McCartney, and Roseanna Vitro.)

Gerry and The Pacemakers were from Liverpool, England, and played in many of the same areas as did The Beatles, including Hamburg, Germany. They had success with “How Do You Do it?”, “I Like It,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” and “Ferry Cross The Mersey” (which was also the name of their 1965 film).

Here are the lyrics to “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” by Gerry and The Pacemakers:

” Don’t let the sun catch you cryin’
The night’s the time for all your tears
Your heart may be broken tonight
But tomorrow in the morning light
Don’t let the sun catch you cryin’

The night-time shadows disappear
And with them go all your tears
For the morning will bring joy
For every girl and boy
So don’t let the sun catch you cryin’

We know that cryin’s not a bad thing
But stop your cryin’ when the birds sing

It may be hard to discover
That you’ve been left for another
But don’t forget that love’s a game
And it can always come again
Oh don’t let the sun catch you cryin’
Don’t let the sun catch you cryin’, oh no
Oh, oh, oh”

For another song by Gerry and The Pacemakers: “Ferry Cross the Mersey.”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ commercial free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” by Gerry and The Pacemakers.