07 I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Cassandra Wilson Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hear that lonesome winter bird
He sounds too blue to fly
The midnight train is whining low
I'm so lonesome I could cry

Did you ever see a robin weep
When leaves began to die
That means he's lost the 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
I'm so lonesome I could cry

Overall Meaning

Cassandra Wilson's song "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is a heartbreaking rendition of Hank Williams' classic. The song is an expression of loneliness and sadness, and Wilson's performance perfectly captures the emotional weight of the lyrics. In the first stanza, Wilson talks about a lonely winter bird singing a melancholic tune that seems too sad to even fly. The imagery of the bird struggling to take flight represents the heavy burden of loneliness that can weigh us down and prevent us from moving forward.


In the second stanza, she sings about a robin weeping when the leaves begin to die, a metaphor for someone losing the will to live. The song's melancholic tone is captured perfectly with the lines, "That means he's lost the will to live, I'm so lonesome I could cry." In the final stanza, Wilson talks about the silence of a falling star lighting up a purple sky. This line represents the emptiness and longing that come with loneliness. As she wonders where her love is, she can't help but feel the weight of her loneliness.


Overall, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is a beautiful yet mournful song that speaks to the heart of loneliness and emotional pain.


Line by Line Meaning

Hear that lonesome winter bird
Listen to that sad bird of winter


He sounds too blue to fly
He sounds so sad he can't even fly


The midnight train is whining low
The train in the middle of the night is making a sorrowful sound


I'm so lonesome I could cry
I am extremely lonely and sad that I could cry


Did you ever see a robin weep
Have you ever seen a robin cry


When leaves began to die
When the leaves start to fall off the trees


That means he's lost the will to live
That indicates that the robin has lost its desire to live


I'm so lonesome I could cry
I am extremely lonely and sad that I could cry


The silence of a falling star
The quietness that accompanies a shooting star


Lights up a purple sky
It brightens up the sky and turns it purple


And as I wonder where you are
And while I question your whereabouts


I'm so lonesome I could cry
I am extremely lonely and sad that I could cry




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Kevin Ten

~ Silent Silver Moon ~

Sometimes I see the moon
Coming between the trees
And wish that it were you
Softly coming for me
Like a maiden on the moor
In a silk and flowing gown
And in the middle distance
I'd dearly hear the sound
Your sweetly scented voice
Clear as the winter moon:
"I come for you, poet
Yes, and come I will soon."
But there is no sweet voice
Soaking between the trees
Silent silver moonlight
Is all that comes for me.

--Misery



MrBuffalo2

Hi from Bristol England Bob.
Im impressed! & what a buzz for a 16year old?
I'm just about 72 and we loved Hank in Ireland where I grew up..a pal bought what he thought was his album and came home with Buddy Greco sings Hank Williams! This version by Norah J has it I recall, similar chord changes as Buddy Gs version.
of course we weren't impressed back then as Buddy Gs version was too "sophisticated" for our ears..but I now like it..esp Norah Js rendition..
and totally love Hanks.
BTW was practising You Win Again today with a singing buddy.
Using Jerry Lee Lewis's arrangement..
That guy simply cant sing out of tune&one of best country singers ever..
Hope youre still getting that ol guitar out these days?
Regards
Pete



All comments from YouTube:

sfdint

Dang. She just sits down at an ordinary piano in an ordinary house dressed like an ordinary mom and turns out pure gold.

RonJohn63

@Rick Perez Whether or not it's unique to her is irrelevant to OP's post and my rebuttal.

Rick Perez

@RonJohn63 And still she made it uniquely hers. Imagine that.

Antonio Santorini

She's human , how else do you want her to be

Tone Toner

I really enjoyed listening to this. Thanks Norah. I hope you enjoyed performing it

Grand Prime

@Emílio Rodrigues everyone is special, with special talents and amazing souls. Few actually develop these in a positive way

55 More Replies...

Laurie Duncan

This needs a love button. The thumbs up just doesn’t cut it.

Bruce Tennyson

Can you use an emoji heart ? ❤️🌈

Gérard Thivolle

I agree !

Dave Tilden

Her voice is so smokey my eyes burn. Love, love, love her voice.

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