It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry

"It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry" is a hook-free song by Scottish Indie rock band Glasvegas. The song was written and composed by the band's singer and guitarist James Allan.

The lyrics explore the concepts of self-loathing, inevitable guilt and regret resulting from infidelity within an interpersonal relationship. The genre employed in the song is heavily guitar-based, making use of delay and reverb effects; and produced using the Wall of Sound technique.  The song is also unique in that the title of the song is not uttered until the very last line.

"It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry" was originally released as a download single through Sane Man on 7 February 2008, and a limited edition 7" one week later. The song received mostly positive reception from music journalists, with single reviews praising its lyrical content and production and likening it to the work of The Jesus and Mary Chain.

Origins and recording 

James Allan wrote and composed the song prior to the album recording sessions at Central Sound Studios in Glasgow, Scotland, where the band recorded their previous two singles, "Go Square Go!" and "Daddy's Gone". Kevin Burleigh, who co-produced "Go Square Go!" with James Allan and engineered "Daddy's Gone", also engineered "It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry". James Allan handled production duties whilst recording the song, as well as on the B-side to the single—a cover version of The Ronettes' "Be My Baby".

Formats 
The song was first released as a digital download through Sane Man on 7 February 2008, and received a physical release one week later as a 7" single, limited to 2000 copies. A promo CD was also released. The artwork featured on the sleeve of the 7" is by Rob Biddulph, and was designed in the style of singles from the 1960s. Biddulph also designed the artwork for the previous single, "Daddy's Gone," in the same style.

Track listings 
All songs written by James Allan, except where noted.

7" single (SAN002); digital download
 "It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry" – 4:45
 "Be My Baby" (Barry/Greenwich/Spector) – 4:12

Promo CD
 "It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry" – 4:45
 "Be My Baby" (Barry/Greenwich/Spector) – 4:12
 "It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry" (Clean Version) – 4:41

Critical reception 
"It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry" received a positive reception in the music press. Mark Beaumont of NME named it Track of the Week, and praised the song, stating that it "stirs more emotion than a million candle-lit meals" and compares it to previous single, "Daddy's Gone", as well as the work of fellow Glasgow band The Jesus and Mary Chain, stating it "shimmers in the kind of elegiac-yet-filthy Wall of Sound thrum [reminiscent of Psychocandy] [...] only this time even more dark, dolorous and redolent." John Murphy of musicOMH praised the song's composition, stating "[broad] Scottish brogues, lashings of feedback and multi-layered guitars and a massive dosage of self-loathing all combine here to produce one of the most compelling singles in months." Murphy hailed Glasvegas the "sound of young Scotland" and also compared the song to The Jesus and Mary Chain, stating "at times [it] sounds like a throwback to the days of The Jesus and Mary Chain." In February 2008, Q magazine listed the single at number 10 in their list of the 50 essential tracks you need to download.

Personnel and credits 

Glasvegas
 James Allan – vocals, guitar,
 Rab Allan – guitar
 Paul Donoghue – bass
 Caroline McKay – drum

Production
 James Allan - Producer
 Kevin Burleigh – Engineer

References

External links 
 "It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry" lyrics
 

Category:2008 singles
Category:Glasvegas songs
Category:Songs written by James Allan (musician)
Category:2008 songs