Diana Krall was born into a musical family in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Ca… Read Full Bio ↴Diana Krall was born into a musical family in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada (on November 16, 1964). She began learning the piano at the age of four. In high school, she started playing in a small jazz group. At the age of fifteen, she started playing regularly in several Nanaimo restaurants. She also spent some time in Toronto studying with Canadian Jazz great, Don Thompson (Bass/Piano) and with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts she moved to the U.S to continue studies and develop her career.

Her playing attracted the attention of bass player Ray Brown, who brought her into touch with influential teachers and producers. At the age of seventeen, she won a scholarship from the Vancouver Jazz Festival to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. After three terms she moved to Los Angeles to study with Jimmy Rowles, with whom she also began to sing. In 1990, Krall relocated to New York. She is married to British musician Elvis Costello.

Only the Lonely
Diana Krall Lyrics

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Each place I go only the lonely go
Some little small cafe
The songs I know only the lonely know
Each melody recalls a love that used to be
The dreams I dream only the lonely dream
Of lips as warm as May
That hopeless scheme only the lonely scheme
That soon somewhere you'll find a love that used to care

And you'll recall each fun time
Those picnics at the beach when love was new
It well could be the one time
A hopeless little dream like that comes true
If you find love hang on to each caress
And never let love go

For when it's gone you'll know the loneliness
The heartbreak only the lonely know

Overall Meaning

Diana Krall's song "Only the Lonely" captures the feeling of loss and heartbreak that can come with lost love. Krall describes how she feels isolated and alone, as if the only people who understand her pain are those who have experienced it themselves. She sings about visiting cafes filled with sad songs that remind her of lost love, and about dreams that only the lonely dream. The melodies she knows recall a love that used to be, but now is gone.

Krall also sings about the hope that love will return, despite the pain she has experienced. She speaks of the scheme that only the lonely scheme, the hope that someday she will find a new love that will care for her. Krall ends the song with advice to those who eventually find new love: never let it go. The loneliness and heartbreak that come with lost love are too much to bear, and it's better to hold on to love when it comes.

"Only the Lonely" is a poignant and moving song that captures the emotions of heartbreak and loss. Its lyrics resonate with anyone who has experienced the pain of lost love, and Krall's beautiful voice adds to the depth of emotion conveyed in the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Each place I go only the lonely go
Everywhere I travel, only those who are feeling lonely come along

Some little small cafe
These places are not grand or fancy, but rather humble and unassuming

The songs I know only the lonely know
The music I listen to, only those who are feeling lonely can relate to it

Each melody recalls a love that used to be
Every tune reminds me of an old love that is now gone and past

The dreams I dream only the lonely dream
My hopes and aspirations for the future are peculiar to those who are feeling alone

Of lips as warm as May
I yearn for the embrace of someone who can evoke the sensations of a warm, sunny day in May

That hopeless scheme only the lonely scheme
The plans I make that seem destined to fail, are often created out of a sense of loneliness

That soon somewhere you'll find a love that used to care
The fantasy of finding love again and rekindling a lost connection is a common thought among those who are feeling lonely

And you'll recall each fun time
You will inevitably remember all the happy times that you spent with the one who is no longer in your life

Those picnics at the beach when love was new
The memories may include nostalgic moments such as picnics on the beach, when love was still fresh and new

It well could be the one time
Perhaps there is a chance that these dreams of finding love again might actually come true

A hopeless little dream like that comes true
It is a small and unlikely hope, but it is a hope nonetheless

If you find love hang on to each caress
If you do happen to find love, cherish every touch and physical sign of affection from that person

And never let love go
Hold on to this love for as long as you can, do not let it slip away

For when it's gone you'll know the loneliness
Because once it is gone, the feelings of loneliness will return and you will be left with the memory of what you had

The heartbreak only the lonely know
The pain and anguish of losing someone, that feeling of emptiness and hurt, is something that only those who are feeling alone truly understand

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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