In 2008, Lee was honored with the Songwriter Icon Award by the National Music Publishers Association. She received the Best Vocalist award at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in 2012 and was recognized as the Rock Goddess of the Year at the Loudwire Music Awards. The Moondance International Film Festival awarded her with the Best Film Score for Indigo Grey: The Passage in 2015. In 2017, her song "Speak to Me" earned her the Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in Independent Film. Lee also serves as the American chairperson for the international epilepsy awareness foundation, Out of the Shadows.
Discography
Aftermath (2014, with Dave Eggar)
Recover, Vol. 1 (2016)
Dream Too Much (2016)
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Amy Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He sounds too blue to fly
The midnight train is whining low
I'm so lonesome I could cry
I've never seen a night so long
When time goes crawling by
The moon just went behind a cloud
Did you ever hear a robin weep
When leaves begin to die?
That means he's lost his will to live
I'm so lonesome I could cry
The silence of a falling star
Lights up a purple sky
And as I wonder where you are
I'm so lonesome I could cry
Amy Lee’s cover of “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” perfectly captures the emotional turmoil of feeling completely alone. The song, written by Hank Williams in 1949, is one of the greatest country music ballads of all time, and it's been performed in a variety of styles and contexts over the years.
At first glance, the song is about a man who is feeling lonely and miserable. He hears a whippoorwill that sounds "too blue to fly" and a midnight train that "whines low." These sounds are representative of a world that is alive and moving on without him. Each moment feels heavy and long, with the moon disappearing behind a cloud, increasing his feelings of isolation. The image of a robin weeping is particularly poignant because it represents the moment when everything starts to die, including the man's will to go on. The lyrics hint that he has lost someone or something that meant everything to him, and he's pining for their return.
However, the lyrics are open-ended enough to allow for interpretation. Listeners can interpret the song as a reflection of different types of loneliness. For example, it might be about being away from home for too long, having lost a loved one or a relationship ended, chronic sadness or depression, or feeling like one doesn't belong anywhere. The song is haunting, slow, and evocative, with Amy Lee's voice carrying a powerful vulnerability that matches the mood of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear that lonesome whippoorwill?
Can you hear that sad, lonely bird calling out into the night?
He sounds too blue to fly
His song is so melancholy, it seems as though he's lost all hope.
The midnight train is whining low
The sound of the train in the distance is a constant reminder of how alone I am.
I'm so lonesome I could cry
I feel such a deep, intense loneliness that it's overwhelming and I can't help but cry.
I've never seen a night so long
The hours feel like they're dragging on forever, and it seems like morning will never come.
When time goes crawling by
The minutes feel like hours, and the passing of time seems almost painful.
The moon just went behind a cloud
Even the moon, which brings light and comfort, is suddenly hidden from view, leaving me even more alone in the dark.
Did you ever hear a robin weep
Have you ever heard a bird cry out in sadness, realizing that all is lost?
When leaves begin to die?
When everything around us is changing and dying, it can be hard to find hope or joy in anything.
That means he's lost his will to live
The bird's sadness is a reminder that sometimes, when we lose the things we love or the people we need, life can lose its meaning and we can feel like giving up.
The silence of a falling star
Even the beauty of the night sky can be a lonely reminder of the vastness of the universe and how small we are in comparison.
Lights up a purple sky
The colors and majesty of nature are still present, even in the midst of our sorrow and loneliness.
And as I wonder where you are
Amidst all of this sadness, my heart aches for the person I love and longs for their presence and comfort.
I'm so lonesome I could cry
Once again, my feelings overwhelm me, and I am left with nothing but my tears and my loneliness.
Contributed by Asher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.