About The Song
There’s a tender melancholy that fills the air the moment Daniel O’Donnell begins “Cryin’ Time” on stage in Branson, Missouri. His voice, warm and steady as ever, takes this classic country heartbreak song — made famous by Buck Owens and Ray Charles — and turns it into a moment of shared emotion between artist and audience. With Daniel, sadness never feels heavy; it feels honest. He doesn’t just sing about heartbreak — he understands it, and that quiet empathy gives this performance its unforgettable grace.
From the opening lines — “Oh, it’s cryin’ time again, you’re gonna leave me” — Daniel’s delivery is simple but deeply felt. There’s no attempt to dramatize the pain, no flourish of self-pity. Instead, he sings with acceptance, like someone who has learned that love sometimes fades without warning, and that the only way to face it is with dignity. His gentle phrasing makes the lyric feel almost like a conversation — as if he’s talking softly to the one who’s leaving, still loving them even as they walk away.
The beauty of Daniel’s voice lies in its sincerity. He doesn’t strain for emotion; he lets it flow naturally. Every note is perfectly controlled, but every word carries the soft ache of understanding. You can hear the compassion in his tone — the sorrow, yes, but also the grace that comes with forgiveness. When he sings the refrain, “I can see that faraway look in your eyes,” his voice seems to tremble with the weight of quiet realization. It’s the sound of someone who knows he’s losing something precious — but still wishes the other well.
The Branson performance amplifies that feeling of intimacy. The stage lighting is soft, the crowd hushed. There’s no flash, no spectacle — only a man, a microphone, and a story as old as love itself. The band plays gently behind him: a slow waltz rhythm, brushed drums, tender piano, and the faint cry of steel guitar weaving around his voice like a sigh. The arrangement feels timeless, perfectly complementing Daniel’s calm presence.
What makes this rendition of “Cryin’ Time” so powerful is how Daniel finds the beauty within the sadness. For many singers, this song is a lament; for Daniel, it’s a moment of release. His tone carries a sense of peace, of acceptance that even endings can hold love. He doesn’t fight the heartbreak — he lets it be. There’s something deeply human in that choice. The emotion never overwhelms him; instead, it settles gently, like evening light on the water.
As the song moves toward its final verse, Daniel’s voice grows even more delicate. Each repetition of the title phrase — “Oh, it’s cryin’ time again…” — feels softer, more resigned, as though he’s letting the memory drift away with kindness rather than pain. And when the last note fades, the audience doesn’t rush to clap. They pause — breathing in that silence, feeling what he felt. It’s one of those moments only a performer like Daniel can create — where sadness feels sacred, and loss becomes something beautiful.
Emotionally, “Cryin’ Time” fits Daniel O’Donnell perfectly. His artistry has always been about truth — about taking the simplest words and filling them with real feeling. He doesn’t hide behind glamour or power notes; he connects through gentleness. That’s why, even in a song about goodbye, his voice carries warmth. He reminds us that heartbreak doesn’t erase love; it simply changes it.
In “Cryin’ Time (Live from Branson, Missouri),” Daniel gives us more than a performance — he gives us a moment of shared humanity. His voice becomes a bridge between pain and peace, between what was and what remains. By the end, you’re not left with despair, but gratitude — gratitude for a singer who knows that even in tears, there can be tenderness… and that sometimes, the most beautiful songs are born from the quiet art of letting go.