Tha Carter V

Don't Cry

Lil Wayne

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

22

End

113

Internal

28

Multi

115

Slant

13

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: XXXTENTACION & Lil Wayne]
Don't cry (Don't cry, don't cry)
Don’t go (Why, oh why?)
Won't lie
I fuckin'✦ love you, woah (Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry)
Don't cry (Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry)
Don't go (Why, oh why, oh why, oh why?)
Won't lie (Don't cry, don't cry)
I fuckin'✦ love you, woah (Don't cry, don't cry)
[Verse 2: Lil Wayne & XXXTENTACION]
Talent is God-given,✦ be grateful✦
Fame is not a given,✦ be humble
And conceit is self-driven,✦ drive carefully
Stay in your own lane, seat buckled
And sometimes when there is no music
We toot our own horns, rum-bum-bum-bum
That woman carried the future✦
And Tunechi was born like, "Dun-dun-dun-dun-dun"
Don't call it a comeback
It was dark, now the sun back
Hit me hard, but I punched back
The wheels fell off, I rode the hubcap
Is it suicide or it's do or die?
It's newer✦ days and it's bluer skies
I told myself it's just you and I
Then the breeze came and it blew my mind
Lord knows who I'm there for
I give my last breath of air for
Mama tell me to be careful✦
Voice in my head give me an earful
But I got mind control✦ over✦ my control✦
I lost control✦ but knew I'd find control✦
I let God control✦ what I cannot✦ control✦
Can't control✦ the tears, let 'em drop and roll (Let 'em drop and roll)
[Chorus: XXXTENTACION & Lil Wayne]
Don't cry (Don't cry, don't cry)
Don't go (Why, oh why, oh why?)
Won't lie (Don't cry)
I fuckin'✦ love you, woah
(Triple extension✦ on my motherfuckin'✦ afterlife,✦ rest in paradise)✦
Don't cry (Don't cry, don't cry)
Don't go (Why, oh why, oh why?)
Won't lie
I fuckin'✦ love you, woah (Don't cry)
[Outro: Lil Wayne]
Don't cry, stay tuned
And triple extension✦ on my motherfuckin'✦ afterlife✦
Rest in paradise✦

Technical Breakdown

8.4
Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity5.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.5

Performance and control

Computed Score8.44

Production

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Lil Wayne utilizes a masterful cadence shift to elevate relatively straightforward aphorisms into a cohesive, rhythmically dense reflection on survival and artistic identity.

A
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
5
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
8.5
Delivery
Assonance-heavy internal rhymingDynamic cadence switchingPercussive onomatopoeiaAphoristic wordplay
Rhyme Architecture: The verse shifts from an A-A-A-A rhyme scheme (grateful, humble, carefully, buckled) into highly percussive internal couplets, eventually settling into a consistent terminal rhyme structure (back/back/back/cap) that drives the momentum toward the climax.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"conceit is self-driven, drive carefully"

① Conceit is an ego-centric trait fueled by one's own internal motivations.② A literal warning about operating a motor vehicle, playing on the word 'driven' to bridge ego and traffic safety.

"The wheels fell off, I rode the hubcap"

① A metaphorical admission of losing one's foundation or stability during a career struggle.② A literal representation of persistence, continuing to move forward even when the primary support systems (wheels) have failed.

"It's newer days and it's bluer skies"

① A literal reference to weather and the passage of time indicating improvement.② A homophonic wordplay where 'newer' sounds like 'newa' and 'bluer' mimics the phonetic qualities of 'blues', referencing a shift away from a depressed or 'blue' mental state.

Exceptional rhythmic control and pocket placement

Effective use of vocal onomatopoeia to mimic rhythmic elements

Strong structural arc transitioning from advice to personal narrative

Vocabulary choices are intentionally accessible rather than complex

Metaphorical depth relies heavily on classic hip-hop tropes

Some aphorisms feel slightly didactic

User Scores