Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family when he was 13 years old. His music career began there in 1954, recording at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African American music to a wider audience. Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley was a pioneer of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country music and rhythm and blues. In 1955, drummer D. J. Fontana joined to complete the lineup of Presley's classic quartet and RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who would manage the singer for more than two decades. Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", was released in January 1956 and became a number one hit in the United States. With a series of successful network television appearances and chart-topping records, he became the leading figure of the newly popular sound of rock and roll. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race relations, made him enormously popular—and controversial.
In November 1956, Presley made his film debut in Love Me Tender. Drafted into military service in 1958, Presley relaunched his recording career two years later with some of his most commercially successful work. He held few concerts however, and guided by Parker, proceeded to devote much of the 1960s to making Hollywood movies and soundtrack albums, most of them critically derided. In 1968, following a seven-year break from live performances, he returned to the stage in the acclaimed television comeback special Elvis, which led to an extended Las Vegas concert residency and a string of highly profitable tours. In 1973, Presley gave the first concert by a solo artist to be broadcast around the world, Aloha from Hawaii. Years of prescription drug abuse severely compromised his health, and he died suddenly in 1977 at his Graceland estate, just 42 years of age.
Presley is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century. Commercially successful in many genres, including pop, country, blues, and gospel, he is the best-selling solo artist in the history of recorded music. He won three competitive Grammys, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36, and has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame.
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Elvis Presley's "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is a song about heartbreak, loneliness, and despair. The opening lyrics paint a vivid image of a somber winter landscape where even the birds seem to be too sad to fly. The midnight train's haunting moan adds to the overall feeling of desolation. The melancholic melody perfectly complements the lyrics, creating a mood that evokes sorrow and heartache. As the song continues, the image of a robin weeping when leaves fall represents the loss of will to live due to a profound sense of grief. The falling star's silence symbolizes the emptiness and uncertainty of life without the one you love.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear that lonesome winter bird
Listen to the lonely winter bird's melancholic tune
He sounds too blue to fly
His sadness is so deep, he cannot even find the strength to fly away
The midnight train is whining low
The train's sound reflects the singer's feelings of sadness and loneliness
I'm so lonesome I could cry
The artist is overwhelmed with feelings of loneliness and sadness
Did you ever see a robin weep
Have you ever witnessed the despair of a robin when autumn arrives?
When leaves began to die
It's a sign that something is coming to an end, just like the singer's relationship
That means he's lost the will to live
The robin's sadness is so consuming, he has given up on life itself
I'm so lonesome I could cry
The artist's loneliness is so great, it's as if he too has lost the will to live
The silence of a falling star
The quiet moment after a falling star symbolizes the artist's longing for connection and hope
Lights up a purple sky
The beautiful sky contrasts with the artist's inner darkness and sadness
And as I wonder where you are
The singer's sorrow is amplified by his uncertainty about the whereabouts of the person he misses
I'm so lonesome I could cry
The artist repeats this line to emphasize the emotional depth of his loneliness
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Captiva Island
Broke:
He had so many health issues,
but even though he suffered he kept on singing to his fans.H always said it: If it wasn’t for his fans there would not be an
ELVIS!!!!!!!
That’s why even suffering he did all that for us his fans!!!!!!
Nothing SELFISH about him!!!!
I wish HE would still be among us, but my consolation is that he no longer is suffering!
Besides the suffering he wasn’t
a happy person. IMO, there are no Ifs and or Buts the manager that old bastard killed him!!!!!
I saw the movie yesterday.
The movie was too short, but it was excellent!!!!!
I was happy to see that they made it very clear of how the
old manager robbed Elvis blind, a lot of ppl think that there would not be an ELVIS if it wasn’t for the colonel, thank
God the movie showed it very clear they took the old man’s mask off
It’s A Wonderful Knife
You know it’s a good performance when the singer gives himself chills.
Just Pretend
Yes indeed! Watching him get the chills gave ME the chills!
A.C. Bernardo
I agree!!!👍👍Elvis forever!♥️♥️♥️
Joyce Collins
Saw that 🥰 and I agree 👍 💯
Michelle Berube
I love that he can give himself the chills
abc
I think it's over the lyrics. Hank Williams Sr. was a genius at writing sad songs that get you right in the heart! Elvis does the song justice in every way.
Maureen Fey
It’s wonderful to hear him speaking and laughing,almost as though he is still here. If only. Elvis for ever.
Viktor T.
Elvis sings with his soul and his voice heals me
Demetrio Sousa
Esse cara pode cantar qualquer ritmo q exista no planeta, ele nasceu pra cantar
Fely Daguio
Listening to him sing his songs make me nostalgic!!! He still lives in our hearts!!! He is the greatest performer ever!!!