Thompson's musical style, characterized as Honky Tonk Swing, is a mixture of big-band instrumentation, fiddle and steel guitar that supports his distinctive, gravelly baritone vocals on songs he often writes himself. His backing band, The Brazos Valley Boys, was voted the No.1 Country Western Band for 14 years in a row by Billboard Magazine.
He decided to pursue his musical talent after serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II as a radioman and studying electrical engineering at the university level. His first single was "Whoa Sailor" in 1946. The year 1952 brought his first #1 disc, "The Wild Side of Life", which contained the memorable line "I didn't know God made honky-tonk angels" (which inspired the Kitty Wells response, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels"). Other hits followed in quick succession in the 1950s and 1960s. Although not as prominent in later decades, he has remained an active and respected performer in the field, finding new audiences as a result of the resurgence of a harder-edged sound in country music.
Hank Thompson was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989 and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1997. He was born 3 September 1925 in Waco, Texas, and passed away at home in Keller, Texas, on 6 November 2007, just four days after cancelling his final tour.
I Cast A Lonesome Shadow
Hank Thompson Lyrics
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And the lamplight streaming over me projects my lonely gloom
My counterpart in agony mocks each tear that falls
And I cast a lonesome shadow on these lonely, lonely walls
He's always by my side at night no matter where I go
He lurks out in the darkness or in the neon's glow
He follows me across the steps and up and down the hallAnd I cast a lonesome shadow on these lonely, lonely walls
I sit and watch the candle and the flicker of the flame
My writhing shadow twists and turns as though it is in pain
I'm trying to escape the memory my mind recalls
And I cast a lonesome shadow on these lonely, lonely walls
The image of a love I lost and all the things I'd planned
Are as empty as this bottle that I hold in my hand
My soul is buried in the depths of love and life's pitfalls
And I cast a lonesome shadow on these lonely, lonely walls
I cast a lonesome shadow on these lonely, lonely walls
The lyrics to Hank Thompson's song "I Cast a Lonesome Shadow" depict a heartbroken and repentant man who is haunted by the memory of a lost love. He spends his evenings alone, sitting in his room, with only the lamplight to keep him company. He is painfully aware of his own sadness and isolation, and he sees his own shadow as a reminder of his loneliness. The shadow, which he refers to as his "counterpart in agony," appears to be mocking him, as it twists and turns in the flickering flame of the candle he lights.
Throughout the song, the singer is followed by his shadow, which seems to mirror his every move. The shadow is a constant reminder of his lost love and the plans he had made for the future. The memories of these plans are now empty, much like the bottle he holds in his hand. The singer is buried in the depths of his own sorrow, unable to escape the pain he feels.
The song is a poignant reflection on the universal theme of lost love and heartbreak. It speaks to the pain and isolation that can come from losing someone you love, and the haunting memories that can follow you long after they are gone.
Line by Line Meaning
Every evening when the sun goes down I sit here in my room
I spend every night alone, depressed and secluded in my room as the sun sets
And the lamplight streaming over me projects my lonely gloom
The light from my lamp highlights my sadness and loneliness
My counterpart in agony mocks each tear that falls
My own shadow seems to mock me as I cry tears of sorrow
And I cast a lonesome shadow on these lonely, lonely walls
My shadow represents my loneliness and it looms over these empty walls
He's always by my side at night no matter where I go
My shadow always follows me, keeping me company in my loneliness, no matter where I try to escape to
He lurks out in the darkness or in the neon's glow
My shadow is present in both darkness and light, a constant reminder of my sadness
He follows me across the steps and up and down the hall
My shadow follows me everywhere, an unshakeable presence in my life
And I cast a lonesome shadow on these lonely, lonely walls
My shadow continues to represent my isolation as it looms over these empty walls
I sit and watch the candle and the flicker of the flame
I sit in silence, watching the candle and its flame as its light flickers in the darkness
My writhing shadow twists and turns as though it is in pain
My shadow seems to writhe in agony, as though it too is suffering from the weight of my sorrow
I'm trying to escape the memory my mind recalls
I am desperately trying to forget the painful memories that haunt me
And I cast a lonesome shadow on these lonely, lonely walls
Despite my efforts to escape my loneliness and pain, my shadow is a constant reminder of my isolation
The image of a love I lost and all the things I'd planned
I can't escape the memory of the love I lost and the life we planned together
Are as empty as this bottle that I hold in my hand
My dreams and hopes for the future feel as empty as the bottle I hold, providing no relief from my pain and loneliness
My soul is buried in the depths of love and life's pitfalls
My very being feels immersed in the pain and hardship of life and love, leaving me feeling lost in a sea of sorrow
And I cast a lonesome shadow on these lonely, lonely walls
My shadow continues to loom over me, a symbol of my isolation and despair
I cast a lonesome shadow on these lonely, lonely walls
The refrain of the song highlights the constant presence of my shadow and the weight of my loneliness
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LYNN RUSSWURM, HANK THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind