In the rock (and roll) community, Bill Monroe may be best known via one of Elvis Presley's earliest recordings at Sun Records, that of Monroe's 'Blue Moon of Kentucky'. Patsy Cline also made a highly regarded version of this song.
Sitting Alone in the Moonlight
Bill Monroe Lyrics
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Thinking of the days gone by
Wondering about my darling
I can still hear her saying goodbye
Oh, the moon grows pale as I sit here
Each little star seems to whisper and say
Your sweetheart has found another
Sitting alone in the moonlight
Thinking of the days gone by
Wondering about my darling
I can still hear her saying goodbye
Oh, the moon grows pale as I sit here
Each little star seems to whisper and say
Your sweetheart has found another
And now she's far, far away
In Bill Monroe's song "Sitting Alone in the Moonlight," the singer is left pondering over his past memories and his beloved one who left him behind. He sits alone under the moonlight, thinking about the better days, wondering about where his lover is and what she is doing, but sadly he hears a silent goodbye. The singer is tormented by memories of his beloved, and he perceives the moon and stars whispering to him that his love has found someone else and is far away from him, never to return.
The song has a melancholic tone that conveys feelings of loss, nostalgia, and heartbreak. The use of moon and stars as a symbolic representation of solitude and despair is powerful, emphasizing the emptiness that the singer feels. The lyrics reveal the deep longing and yearning for the past, and the pain of the present that the singer is grappling with. He is trying to make sense of what happened and why, but the answer eludes him, and he is left alone in the still night.
Overall, "Sitting Alone in the Moonlight" is a soulful and poignant ballad that captures the essence of heartbreak and sorrow. The poetic language, the evocative imagery, and the barren landscape create an atmosphere of loss that resonates with the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting alone in the moonlight
Bill Monroe is alone and pensive under the moon's glow
Thinking of the days gone by
He's reminiscing about the past and its memories
Wondering about my darling
The object of his affection is on his mind
I can still hear her saying goodbye
The echo of his parted lover's farewell still rings in his ears
Oh, the moon grows pale as I sit here
The moon's light seems to be getting dimmer, mirroring the melancholy mood
Each little star seems to whisper and say
The glittering stars above appear like they're communicating some secret truth
Your sweetheart has found another
He imagines that his lover has moved on and found another lover
And now she's far, far away
Her departure is not just physical, but emotional and feels like a chasm between them now
Sitting alone in the moonlight
Reemphasizing his loneliness and despair
Thinking of the days gone by
Still lost in the past, unwilling to let go
Wondering about my darling
Her memory still haunts him, and he can't help but wonder where she went wrong
I can still hear her saying goodbye
Her voice echoes repeatedly in his head
Oh, the moon grows pale as I sit here
The fading moon's light mirrors his fading hope for reconciliation
Each little star seems to whisper and say
The signs seem prophetic and indisputable
Your sweetheart has found another
The truth of the situation, though heartbreaking, is becoming clear
And now she's far, far away
In the end, the distance between them is too great for him to cross
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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@DesertMan202
This is one of my all time favorite songs from Bill Monroe
@kcs764
Jimmy Martin singing lead with Bill Monroe. Rudy Lyle was on banjo and Ernie Newton was on bass.The great Charlie Cline played fiddle. As a side note, Martin, Monroe, and Cline made up the trio that recorded "A Voice From On High"---one of the finest gospel numbers Monroe ever recorded.
@LeFruFru
these two harmonizing together really makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. Legends both of them
@sunnymtnboy
bill and jimmy, the best that ever was!
@TaildraggersNL
Actually it was Jimmy Martin who sang lead and Bill did the tenor voice. Bill Monroe was closer to the mic (probably made sure he was) and so the harmony tenor voice seemed to be the lead.