A Shoulder To Lean On: Tom Odell Delivers Gentle Reassurance In New Single

Tom Odell has released a new single, “Don’t Cry, Put Your Head On My Shoulder,” and announced a new album, A Wonderful Life, due out September 5, 2025. 

“Don’t Cry, Put Your Head On My Shoulder” instantly gives a Jeff Buckley vibe. You might’ve heard his rendition of “Hallelujah.” The song seems to carry Buckley’s influence from the instrumental and the lyrics. 

Instrumentally wise it features piano and delicate strings. It creates an atmosphere that puts you at ease, but makes it okay to shed a tear despite the title of the song. Odell’s vocals help create the atmosphere of soothing atmosphere. The song blends melancholic and heartfelt lyrics that evoke comfort. 

The lyrics seem to be about being there for a friend. The friend is in distress, and the subject wants to be there for them.  “Don't cry, put your head on my shoulder/ Tell me what happened, my friend / God knows how long I have known you/ It always works out in the end.”

The subject wants to offer whatever they can to help them, even if that means just letting them cry and letting them lean their head on their shoulder, but just wants to see them free of the pain they are experiencing. “The door is locked, the kettle’s screaming/ And I can’t stop this sinking feeling/ Watching you do this damage to yourself.”

The subject is reaching out to their friend, telling them things are going to work out and they are going to be okay. This song can relate to anyone with a friend or a loved one who is going through emotional pain. Odell is reminding you and them that you are both doing everything you can, and that’s comfort in itself.  Things may not seem like they work out, but through it all, it does work out. There’s comfort you can find in someone. Tom Odell is reminding his friend in the song that he’s here for them and reminding them that things will work out.