I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry
B J Thomas Lyrics
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He sounds too blue to fly
The midnight train
Is whining low
And I'm so lonesome I could cry
Did you ever see
A night so long
The moon just went
Behind a cloud
And I'm so lonesome I could cry
Did you ever see
A robin weep
When leaves begin to die?
That means he's lost
The will to live
And I'm so lonesome I could cry
The silence of
A fallin' star
Lights up a purple sky
And as I wonder where you are
I'm so lonesome I could cry
Yeah, I could cry
I could cry
I could cry
I could cry, oh
I could cry, I could cry
"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" by B J Thomas is a song about deep sorrow, longing and despair. The lyrics talk about how alone and hopeless the singer feels. The first verse of the song talks about the lonesome whippoorwill, who sounds too blue to fly, signifying the inability to move on from the painful feelings of loneliness. The midnight train whining low adds to the already melancholic atmosphere, as if the train is echoing the singer's feelings.
The second verse describes a night that seems never-ending, with time crawling by. The moon going behind a cloud reflects the singer's lack of hope or light in the darkness of the night. The third verse poses the question, "Did you ever see a robin weep when leaves begin to die?" The robin, a symbol for new beginnings and hope, has lost the will to live, just like the singer. This verse highlights how even the natural world reacts to loss and despair in the same way as humans do. The fourth verse mentions a falling star lighting up a purple sky, but even the beauty of the sky isn't enough to lift the singer's spirits, as he wonders where his loved one is.
Overall, the song is a poignant reminder of how difficult it can be to move on from feelings of loneliness, even when surrounded by beauty and nature's wonders.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you hear the lonesome whippoorwill?
Have you heard the mournful call of the whippoorwill, expressing such sadness that it seems unable to take flight?
He sounds too blue to fly
Its tone is so melancholy it seems incapable of lifting off or finding any joy.
The midnight train
The train that passes by at night.
Is whining low
Its sound is a mournful, plaintive wail.
And I'm so lonesome I could cry
The collaboration of these sounds amplifies my deep sense of loneliness to such an extent that I feel I could weep uncontrollably.
Did you ever see
A night so long
When time goes crawlin' by?
Have you ever experienced a seemingly interminable evening, where every minute drags on unendingly?
The moon just went
Behind a cloud
The previously visible moon is momentarily obscured by a passing cloud, showing the unpredictability and temporary nature of light and companionship.
And I'm so lonesome I could cry
This night seems to be stretching out forever and deepening my sense of isolation and sorrow.
Did you ever see
A robin weep
When leaves begin to die?
Have you witnessed the sight of a sad robin during the fall season when everything is dying?
That means he's lost
The will to live
The robin's sorrowful expression implies that it has lost the hope and energy to continue on with life.
And I'm so lonesome I could cry
This experience reminds me of the robin's despair, and drags me deeper into my own overwhelming feelings of loneliness.
The silence of
A fallin' star
Lights up a purple sky
The brief event of a falling star momentarily illuminates the dark sky, drawing attention to the otherwise uneventful, and highlighting the rareness and preciousness of beauty and happiness.
And as I wonder where you are
I'm so lonesome I could cry
This natural beauty causes me to reminisce and ponder on my separation from my loved one, making my loneliness even more intense.
Yeah, I could cry
I could cry
I could cry
I could cry, oh
I could cry, I could cry
The internalization of this profound loneliness and separation from loved ones is so heavy it seems to consume me, the feeling of sorrow endlessly repeating in my mind.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind