Are You Lonesome Tonight
Elvis Presley and the Jordanaires Lyrics


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Are you lonesome tonight
Do you miss me tonight?
Are you sorry we drifted apart?
Does your memory stray to a brighter sunny day
When I kissed you and called you sweetheart?
Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare?
Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?
Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?

I wonder if you're lonesome tonight
You know someone said that the world's a stage
And each must play a part
Fate had me playing in love you as my sweet heart
Act one was when we met, I loved you at first glance
You read your line so cleverly and never missed a cue
Then came act two, you seemed to change and you acted strange
And why I'll never know
Honey, you lied when you said you loved me
And I had no cause to doubt you
But I'd rather go on hearing your lies
Than go on living without you
Now the stage is bare and I'm standing there
With emptiness all around
And if you won't come back to me
Then make them bring the curtain down





Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?

Overall Meaning

Elvis Presley's song, Are you Lonesome Tonight, is a sentimental piece about the regret and pain felt after a relationship ends. The lyrics start with a series of questions, asking if the significant other is feeling as lonely and sorry about the separation as the singer is. The vivid imagery of an empty, lifeless room with chairs in the parlor and a vacant doorstep brilliantly emphasizes this emotion. The singer then reminisces about the good times spent with their partner and how their love had blossomed during act one of their relationship, only to suffer a tragic ending in act two.


The lyrics also highlight the themes of love, romance, and drama. The reference to "the world's a stage" suggests that relationships are a form of theatre where the two partners play the leading roles. The song is also an interpretation of Shakespearean tragic love stories, where the couple's love has an unfortunate ending. The lyricist cleverly uses metaphors, allusions, and imagery to convey the pain and sorrow that come with lost love.


Overall, the song is an ode to love and heartache, beautifully delivered with Elvis Presley's deep, soulful voice, and the iconic melody. The lyrics leave an indelible mark on the listener's heart, making them empathize with the singer's plight.


Line by Line Meaning

Are you lonesome tonight
I'm curious if you're feeling lonely right now


Do you miss me tonight?
Do you feel the absence of my presence tonight?


Are you sorry we drifted apart?
Do you regret the fact that we separated from each other?


Does your memory stray to a brighter sunny day When I kissed you and called you sweetheart?
Do you recall with fondness the good times we shared together?


Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare? Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?
Do you feel a sense of emptiness in your surroundings and imagine me being there?


Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Are you experiencing heartache and would you like me to return to your life?


I wonder if you're lonesome tonight You know someone said that the world's a stage And each must play a part
I ponder if you're feeling lonely and I recall the saying that life is like a stage and everyone has a role to play


Fate had me playing in love you as my sweet heart Act one was when we met, I loved you at first glance You read your line so cleverly and never missed a cue
Destiny led me to love you and when we first met, I fell for you instantly You played your role so well, never missing a beat


Then came act two, you seemed to change and you acted strange And why I'll never know Honey, you lied when you said you loved me And I had no cause to doubt you
But in the next act, you seem to have changed and behaved oddly I don't know the reason for your change You deceived me when you professed your love and I had no reason to disbelieve you


But I'd rather go on hearing your lies Than go on living without you Now the stage is bare and I'm standing there With emptiness all around And if you won't come back to me Then make them bring the curtain down
Despite your lies, I'd rather have you with me than live a life without you Now that everything's over, my surroundings feel empty and meaningless And if you won't return to me, just let the show come to an end




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Roy Turk, Lou Handman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@baddiemauve4958

[Verse 1]
Are you lonesome tonight?
Do you miss me tonight?
Are you sorry we drifted apart?
Does your memory stray
To a bright sunny day
When I kissed you and called you sweetheart?

[Verse 2]
Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare?
Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?
Is your heart filled with pain
Shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?

Spoken:
I wonder if you're lonesome tonight
You know someone said that the world's a stage
And each of us must play a part
Fate had me playing in love with you as my sweetheart
Act one was where we met
I loved you at first glance
You read your line so cleverly and never missed a cue
Then came act two, you seemed to changed, you acted strange
And why I've never know
Honey, you lied when you said you loved me
And I had no cause to doubt you
But I'd rather go on hearing your lies
Than to go on living without you
Now the stage is bare and I'm standing there
With emptiness all around
And if you won't come back to me
Then they can bring the curtain down

[Outro]
Is your heart filled with pain
Shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?



All comments from YouTube:

@2newgrandpa

My wife and I got to see Elvis in his last concert in Chicago I was 21 she was 18 Now I'm 73 and she's 70

@juanresto6756

Bless the both you. What a memory!

@brickhead_07

Everybody gets old. Except Elvis with his music.

@veritaslibertas4976

It's amazing how soft his voice can get, just above a whisper, and still keep that perfect vibrato. He makes it seem effortless, and with a voice like that, I'm sure it is. No one can ever match it. Timeless. Perfection.

@RR448

That's the reason I love this song..it's definitely a whisper

@rossellapareschi1999

If angels sings for real, this should be how their voice sound....love you Elvis

@reginaldweeks3738

No doubt!!!!

@alinrajmoses9318

Yesudas, an Indian singer.. Another Legend.. sings every lows and highs with perfection and same tone maintained..less popular in another countries

@Khadz19

You are on point. He, Elvis, is one in a billion. He is the only singer that can maintain the soft and high tones effortlessly on live shows. He was a brilliant artist.

10 More Replies...

@AliannaNicole01

my daughter has been falling asleep to this song since she was 5 months old . she’s now 16 months old and it still does the trick. this song will always have a place in my heart ❤️

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