Signaling Ever(ly)where

It has gotten to the point where I cannot even listen to music without thinking about economics. Having a bit of nostalgia about nostalgia and burn through an iTunes gift card, I decided to listen to some Everly Brothers. The first song up, Crying in the Rain.



The premise is that some boy just got his heart broken by his girlfriend. He is upset, but he doesn't want to reveal this to the girl. Crying is a sign of severe weakness in a man, and this boy is deeply concerned about his reputation. Not only would he not want to allow the girl the satisfaction of knowing the damage she did to him, but he probably does not want future prospects to learn of it either. How does one hide crying? By crying when it is raining outside. I can imagine the conversation,

Girl: Hi. Are you crying?

Boy: No, no. Those are just raindrops streaming down my cheeks.

Girl: Oh, okay, then. I'm meeting my new boyfriend. He has a motorcycle.

Boy: Really? Is it still raining?



But wait. Wouldn't the girl know that he is crying every time he steps out when it is raining, you may ask? Not necessarily. Imagine there are two types of boys: wimpy and  stoic. Wimpys cry and Stoics do not. However, both types will go outside when it rains. Therefore, the action of going outside is not a separating equilibrium. However, the action of not going outside when it is not raining would be revealing. Hence, the last verse indicates this lack hiding his type when he longs to be able to "walk in the sun".



Not to be critical, but the boy must be a wreck if he is crying so much that he hold it in for a few minutes to go outside unless it is raining. How about taking a shower, cutting some onions, or watching Brian's Song?