Only the Lonely
Frank Sinatra - Nelson Riddle Lyrics
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Some little small cafè
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
And you 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
The song Only The Lonely by Frank Sinatra and Nelson Riddle is a poignant and heartbreaking exploration of loneliness, lost love, and the yearning for connection. The lyrics describe a world in which the singer is isolated in his loneliness, unable to find anyone who truly understands the depth of his pain. He sings of going to small cafes and hearing songs that only he knows, with melodies that recall a love that has long since passed. His dreams are consumed with the memory of warm lips and the hope of finding someone who cares, but in reality he is left with nothing but a hopeless scheme, dreaming of a love that may never be.
As the song progresses, the singer reminisces about happier times, recalling picnics on the beach and the excitement of new love. But even as he does so, he knows that these moments were fleeting and that his loneliness will never truly fade. The song ends with a warning to anyone who may find love: hold onto it with everything you have, for when it is lost, the heartbreak and loneliness are truly unbearable.
Overall, Only The Lonely is a powerful and emotional song that captures the pain of lost love and the human yearning for connection. It is a testament to Sinatra's ability as a performer that he is able to convey such complex emotions with such simplicity and grace.
Line by Line Meaning
Each place I go only the lonely go
No matter where I go, I only see people who feel lonely just like I do.
Some little small cafè
Even in small and intimate places like cafes, I still only see people who are lonely and searching for love.
The songs I know only the lonely know
The songs that I am familiar with hold a special meaning for those who understand what it feels like to be lonely and longing for love.
Each melody recalls a love that used to be
Every melody I hear takes me back to a time when I was in love with someone who is not with me anymore, making me feel more lonely than ever.
The dreams I dream only the lonely dream
All the dreams that I have are about finding someone to love and be loved in return, something that only those who feel lonely can understand.
Of lips as warm as may
These dreams are filled with fantasies of finding someone with whom I can share warm and loving kisses.
That hopeless scheme, only the lonely scheme
We all have a hopeless scheme of finding love someday, but it is only those who feel lonely who understand this struggle.
That soon somewhere you'll find the one that used to care
The hope that we will find someone who would care for us, even if they are no longer with us, is what keeps us going in our search for love.
And you recall each fun time
Every time we think about the past times spent with a loved one, it brings back memories of the good times shared, making us feel even lonelier in the present.
Those picnics at the beach when love was new
Recalling the special moments spent on the beach with someone we loved when the relationship was new, only adds to the agony of feeling lonely now.
It well could be the one time
There is always a possibility that one day, our hopeless dream of finding love may come true, and we might meet someone who would fill the void in our lonely hearts.
A hopeless little dream like that comes true
Even though it may seem like a hopeless dream, there is always a chance that we might find the love we are searching for.
If you find love hang on to each caress
If we are fortunate enough to find the love we have been searching for, we must cherish every moment and hold onto every little sign of affection.
And never let love go
We must make sure that we never let go of the love that we find because once it's gone, there is nothing that can replace it.
For when it's gone you'll know the loneliness
Once we lose the love that we have found, we will realize the true meaning of loneliness and understand how it feels to be left alone.
The heartbreak only the lonely know
The only ones who can truly understand the pain of heartbreak and loneliness are those who have experienced it firsthand.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: JIMMY VAN HEUSEN, SAMMY CAHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind