I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying

"I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying" is a song written and recorded by English rock singer Sting. It was released from his 1996 album Mercury Falling. The song was also released as a single, and reached number 94 and number 54 on the U.S. and UK singles charts, respectively. Sting also recorded the song as a duet with country music artist Toby Keith on Keith's 1997 Dream Walkin' album. This version reached number 2 on the US Hot Country Songs charts and number 84 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts, and gave Sting his only country hit.

"I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying"
Single by Sting
from the album Mercury Falling
Released8 October 1996
GenreRock, country rock
Length4:00
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)Sting
Producer(s)Hugh Padgham, Sting
Sting singles chronology
"I Was Brought to My Senses"
(1996)		 "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying"
(1996)		 "On Silent Wings"
(1997)

Content

Sting began composing the song as a rock song, but the lyrical content pushed the song in a country direction, and it evolved into a country-rock shuffle.[1] The song begins in the key of F-sharp major, before modulating a semitone upward to G major in the final verse.[2] Its lyrics concern a father whose wife has left him for another man and taken their two children. After a cynical beginning, he has a revelation about the connectedness of life and the universe, and finishes the song truly "so happy he can't stop crying." The music video for the song was directed by Lol Creme. During the Mercury Falling tour, Sting would often invite audience members up onto stage to sing the song along with him.

B sides

US Edition

  1. This Was Never Meant to Be
  2. Giacomo's Blues
  3. Beneath a Desert Moon

German edition

  1. Moonlight
  2. La Belle Dame Sans Regrets

Chart performance (Sting version)
Chart (1996) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[3] 94
UK Singles Chart 54
German Singles Chart 74
Polish Singles Chart[4] 24

Toby Keith version
"I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying"
Single by Toby Keith and Sting
from the album Dream Walkin'
B-side"Jacky Don Tucker (Play by the Rules Miss All the Fun)"
Released6 October 1997 (1997-10-06)
GenreCountry, country rock
Length4:03
LabelMercury Nashville 568114
Songwriter(s)Sting
Producer(s)James Stroud
Toby Keith
Toby Keith singles chronology
"We Were in Love"
(1997)		 "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying"
(1997)		 "Dream Walkin'"
(1998)

In 1997, American country music singer Toby Keith recorded the song on his fourth studio album Dream Walkin'.[5] His version, a duet with Sting, was released in late 1997 as the album's second single. It out-peaked the original version on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 84. In addition, it reached number 2 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts, becoming Sting's only entry on that chart.

Background

According to Keith, Sting agreed to let Keith record the song to give it a second chance at radio, as long as Sting could play bass guitar and sing duet vocals on it.[6] The two also performed the song at the 1997 Country Music Association awards.[7]

Critical reception

Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that Sting and Keith's voices "complement each other extremely well." She goes on to say that a great songwriter can write words and music that transcend any genre and Sting's "poignant lyrics and strong melody on this song are perfect evidence."[8]

Chart performance (Toby Keith version)

"I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying" debuted at number 53 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for the week of 11 October 1997.

Chart (1997–1998) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[9] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 84
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[11] 2

Year-end charts
Chart (1998) Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[12] 74
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References
  1. Garbarini, Vic (July 1996). "Interview with Sting". Guitar World.
  2. Contemporary Country (1 ed.). Hal Leonard Corporation. 1999. pp. 130–138. ISBN 0-634-01594-X.
  3. "Sting Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  4. "Polish Singles Chart |".
  5. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Dream Walkin' review". Allmusic. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  6. "Keith, Sting duet gives tune second wind". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 7 November 1997. pp. P3. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  7. Wix, Kimmy (24 September 1997). "31st Annual CMA Awards Show". CMT. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  8. Billboard, 11 October 1997
  9. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 3441." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 26 January 1998. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  10. "Toby Keith Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. "Toby Keith Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  12. "Best of 1998: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1998. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
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