The phrase "No Woman, No Cry" from the iconic song primarily means "Woman, don't cry."
This renowned lyric, famously associated with reggae music, is often subject to misinterpretation outside of its original Jamaican context. Its core intent is a comforting message, directly addressing a woman and urging her not to weep.
Understanding the Jamaican Patois
In Jamaican Patois, the phrase is rendered as "No, woman, nuh cry." Here, "nuh" acts as a negative particle, similar to "don't" or "do not," transforming the phrase into a direct plea for a woman to cease crying. This linguistic nuance is key to grasping its true meaning.
A Common Misunderstanding
A frequent misunderstanding of "No Woman, No Cry" suggests that it implies "if there is no woman, there is no reason to cry." This interpretation completely reverses the song's original comforting and empathetic message, mistakenly taking the "no" as a quantifier for "woman" rather than as a negative command to "cry." The song is, in essence, a message of reassurance and hope, often in the face of hardship.
