The Trinity Session is perhaps their best known record, recorded live in a single day on a single microphone in a church in Toronto. This album also included a unique cover version of Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane". Reed reportedly liked the Junkies' version of the song better than his own, and began performing their version in concert.
None of the band's subsequent albums have been hits outside of Canada, although the band has maintained a dedicated following and have continued to have chart hits in their native country. Following their 1998 album Miles from Our Home, Cowboy Junkies were dropped from their major label contract. They have continued to release albums on their own independent label, Latent Records.
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Cowboy Junkies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His song's too blue to fly
The midnight train is a-winding low
I'm so lonesome I could cry
I've never seen a night so long
When time keeps crawling by
The moon is gone behind the clouds
Have you ever seen a robin weep
When leaves have turned to brown?
Like me he's lost his will to live
I'm so lonesome I could cry
The silence of a falling star
Lights up a purple haze
And as I wonder where you are
I'm so lonesome I could cry
The song "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" by Cowboy Junkies is a cover of the famous song by Hank Williams. The lyrics depict intense feelings of loneliness that the singer is undergoing. The first stanza starts with "Hear the lonesome whippoorwill, his song's too blue to fly". It's interesting to note that the whippoorwill is a bird known for its sad, lonely song, which the singer has incorporated into the lyrics of the song. The "song's too blue to fly" line possibly means that the bird's sad song is keeping it from flying away.
The next line, "The midnight train is a-winding low," adds to the already gloomy setting by suggesting that the singer is alone, listening to the train whistle in the middle of the night. In the following lines, "I've never seen a night so long, when time keeps crawling by, the moon is gone behind the clouds to hide his face and cry," the singer seems to be experiencing feelings of despair, as indicated by the long, never-ending night and the moon hiding, which could be a metaphor for the singer's emotional state.
In the third stanza, "Have you ever seen a robin weep, when leaves have turned to brown? Like me, he's lost his will to live, I'm so lonesome, I could cry", the singer seems to compare their own lost will to live with the robin that weeps when leaves turn brown. This comparison suggests that the singer is experiencing a deep sense of loss and sadness that they are unable to shake off.
In the final stanza, the "silence of a falling star lights up a purple haze" could represent fleeting moments of hope amidst the loneliness. However, as the singer ponders "where you are," these moments of hope are quickly extinguished, and loneliness takes over once again.
Overall, the lyrics of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" depict deep feelings of loneliness and despair, which are heightened by the use of metaphors and imagery. The sorrowful melody and the haunting vocals of Cowboy Junkies add to the melancholic atmosphere of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear the lonesome whippoorwill
Listen to the sad call of the whippoorwill, which reflects my loneliness.
His song's too blue to fly
The whippoorwill's melancholic song cannot help him forget his sorrow.
The midnight train is a-winding low
As the train passes by, its sound resembles my heart, slowly breaking due to my loneliness.
I'm so lonesome I could cry
Expressing the depth of my solitude, which makes me feel like crying.
I've never seen a night so long
The night seems endless due to the weight of my loneliness.
When time keeps crawling by
The time slows down, making every second feel like an hour due to my feelings of loneliness.
The moon is gone behind the clouds
The moon's hiding behind the clouds, as if it feels sorry for me, and doesn't want me to see it shining in the sky.
To hide his face and cry
The moon seems to be crying, almost in empathy with my emotions.
Have you ever seen a robin weep
Have you ever seen a bird cry like I do when I feel lonely?
When leaves have turned to brown?
Just like the robin's sorrow, my desolation lingers beyond the autumn season.
Like me he's lost his will to live
The bird's despair echoes my loss of enthusiasm for life due to my longing for companionship.
I'm so lonesome I could cry
I feel immensely lonely, enough to break down and cry.
The silence of a falling star
As a shooting star passes through the sky, its fleeting appearance seems to highlight the void left by my loneliness.
Lights up a purple haze
A violet light illuminates the sky, creating a dreamlike and surreal atmosphere, mirroring my state of mind.
And as I wonder where you are
As I ponder on your absence and your whereabouts, I feel consumed by my loneliness.
I'm so lonesome I could cry
My solitude has become unbearable, making me want to cry.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jfess57
Hear the lonesome whippoorwill
His song's too blue to fly
The midnight train is a-winding low
I'm so lonesome I could cry
I've never seen a night so long
When time keeps crawling by
The moon is gone behind the clouds
To hide his face and cry
Have you ever seen a robin weep
When leaves have turned to brown?
Like me he's lost his will to live
I'm so lonesome I could cry
The silence of a falling star
Lights up a purple haze
And as I wonder where you are
I'm so lonesome I could cry
Olivia 73captain73
Hear the lonesome whippoorwill
His song's too blue to fly
The midnight train is a-winding low
I'm so lonesome I could cry
I've never seen a night so long
When time keeps crawling by
The moon is gone behind the clouds
To hide his face and cry
Have you ever seen a robin weep
When leaves have turned to brown?
Like me he's lost his will to live
I'm so lonesome I could cry
The silence of a falling star
Lights up a purple haze
And as I wonder where you are
I'm so lonesome I could cry
John Johnston
Tickets went on sale for a Cowboy Junkies show at an 8000 seat venue in Portland, ME.. I instantly got two. It sold out in a day. This was 1996…maybe, and summer. Well. 3 weeks before the concert the venue was condemned by the city for structural issues. Instead of canceling, Margot and her brothers changed venues to the biggest church in town…sat 500. They did some kind of lottery, and I was a winner. It was a second date with a wonderful gal I had recently met. We were seated in the balcony directly above the pulpit/stage. It was acoustically perfect. The crowd was mesmerized. Hands down the best show I’ve ever seen. It was spiritual. I might be biased because that beautiful gal is the mother of my 4 children and grandma of 5. We fell in love that night.
Tetedepoulet
Had a date with a girl to see them in Philadelphia around the same time. After the show we bought the CD and hung out with the band and they autographed the CD - great night.
We broke up later and she kept the CD...
armadillotoe
The number of artist who have done this song is a testament to just how great the song is.
George P. Burdell
Hank Williams was a genius.
Unbelievable he died before 30.
RoyBoy
“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”. What a beautiful lyric.
Omy Ch
Elvis Presley's is the best version
DP Z
@Omy Ch
Elvis Presleys isn't an original.
If it weren't for Hank Williams Elvis never would have sung this song.
Don't get me wrong Elvis is a great entertainer but he's only mimicking the original.
Omy Ch
@DP Z If it wasn't for Elvis, many, many songs would go unnoticed in the world. Elvis made them famous and he's always sung the best versions 😊👑
Neil Whitaker
Forgot about this band until my wife mentioned them tonight. Having fun listening and I appreciate the songs more now I'm getting old! So much emotion, making me cry a little and I'm not even sad. What a great treat, its like I've discovered a new band.
Dave Spence
You ain’t alone