Crying (from The Daily Ukulele) (arr. Jim Beloff): Ukulele

Jim Beloff's ukulele arrangement captures the yearning quality that made this song iconic, and it sits perfectly for players who want something emotionally mature without technical overwhelm. The two-page format keeps students engaged with a complete, recognizable arrangement that rewards focused practice and thoughtful phrasing.

This is a song built on longing and vulnerability, rendered in Beloff's thoughtful ukulele voicings that honor the original's orchestral lushness. The arrangement carries the weight of Orbison's storytelling while inviting the intimacy that only a small instrument can bring.

Intermediate ukulele students ready to explore songs beyond simplified folk or pop versions will find this arrangement substantive and rewarding. Teachers looking to connect ukulele repertoire to rock and pop history will appreciate how this bridges popular music into their ensemble or solo study.

• Let the opening measures breathe. Resist rushing into the verse; the space you leave becomes part of the song's emotional power.
• Shape the dynamics through the chorus to mirror the lyrical arc. The melody gains intensity as Orbison's character reaches toward hope, so your volume and expression should follow that trajectory.
• Balance the chordal accompaniment against the melody line. Your strumming supports the vocal quality of the tune, not the other way around.

Include this in a concert that celebrates pop and rock songwriting, pairing it with other standards-influenced material to show ukulele's range beyond novelty contexts. It also works as a solo feature for a student recital or as part of a curriculum exploring how classic songs translate across instruments.

• Shaping long melodic lines with expression and phrasing
• Reading and executing dynamic markings that serve the song's emotional narrative
• Balancing single-note melody with chord accompaniment
• Connecting to vocal music traditions through instrumental arrangement