“Pretty When You Cry”

Another track from Ultraviolence, “Pretty When You Cry” is one of her most melancholy tracks and perhaps her most depressing, but it is one of her most beautiful. Carrying the theme of the Ultraviolence era, characterized by its cinematic sound and crestfallen tones. “Because I’m pretty when I cry. I’m pretty when I cry” This line, repeated throughout the song, is easily related to Linda’s character. I envision this song playing in a sequence during which Linda wakes from her bed, much earlier than Willy, and sheds a few tears in the kitchen, alone. It would also foreshadow her later breakdown in Act 2, and would also serve as a small setup for a line later in the play relating to her hair color. I also would have a piece of the song play during the same sequence in which other songs play while Willy gets into his car to commit suicide. “You leave and leave again” would be used to show Linda’s thoughts, but as a way of showing how despondent she has become. This song also suggests that there is a sort of normalization of making someone you love cry, or at least within Lana’s relationship. This ties into Willy’s treatment of Linda throughout the entirety of the play. Also expressed by the song is the belief that sometimes, regardless of how hard one might try to do so, some people are completely unchangeable and certain situations just can’t be fixed.