- Let Her Cry | Hootie & The Blowfish

The Song That Defined a Decade: The Legacy of "Let Her Cry" In 1994, the music world was deeply entrenched in the raw, distorted sounds of grunge. Amidst that heavy aesthetic, a band of college friends from the University of South Carolina released a soulful, rootsy ballad that would go on to win a Grammy and define the "regular guy" rock sound of the 90s. That song was by Hootie & The Blowfish. The Inspiration Behind the Lyrics

While the song sounds like a sympathetic portrait of a man dealing with a partner’s substance abuse, the truth is actually a bit of a role reversal. Lead singer has shared that the lyrics were inspired by his own past struggles in a relationship, but he swapped the gender roles. In reality, Rucker was the "irresponsible one," and his girlfriend was the long-suffering partner trying to hold everything together. Hootie & The Blowfish - Let Her Cry

The creative spark for the song didn't come from a quiet moment of reflection, but from a night out at a bar. Rucker heard and was so moved by it that he went to several different bars that night, asking every bartender to play it again. He went home, fueled by that "stream of consciousness," and wrote what would become his first major hit. A Country Song in Rock Clothing The Song That Defined a Decade: The Legacy