I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics


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Hear that lonesome whippoorwill
He sounds too blue to fly
That old midnight train oh, she's whinin' low
I'm so lonesome I think I'm gonna cry

Did you ever see the night so long
When time goes crawlin' by?
That old moon it just went behind the cloud
To hide it's face, hey and cry

Did you ever, ever see the robin weep
You know when leaves begin to die?




Well, that means he's lost the will to live
I'm gettin' so lonesome I, I-hi could cry

Overall Meaning

Jerry Lee Lewis's song "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" contains a lyrical message about the feeling of loneliness and heartache. The singer is depicting the sounds of nature as it relates to his emotions. In the first verse, he describes a whippoorwill whose crying sounds like he is also feeling dejected, and a train that is whining low, which he could relate to his own sadness. In the second verse, he questions whether anyone has ever experienced the same kind of long-lasting night as he has, and how the moon has hidden to cry behind the clouds. In the third verse, he discusses the sadness of seeing a robin cry, and how the approach of Fall triggers the bird to lose its will to live. These three verses suggest a connection between nature and human emotions, with the underlying theme of despair and loneliness.


In addition to the lyrics, the song has an interesting history. Originally written and recorded by Hank Williams in 1949, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" has been covered by many artists, including Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. In the 1950s, the song became a hit for Williams, but also caused controversy for its lyrics that critics claimed perpetuated negative stereotypes about the South. Despite this controversy, the song remains a classic in American country music.


Line by Line Meaning

Hear that lonesome whippoorwill
Listen to the sad sound of the lonesome whippoorwill.


He sounds too blue to fly
The whippoorwill is so sad and lonely, it doesn't even have the energy to fly.


That old midnight train oh, she's whinin' low
The midnight train is making a sad, mournful sound as it passes by.


I'm so lonesome I think I'm gonna cry
I am so lonely and sad, I feel like crying.


Did you ever see the night so long
Have you ever experienced a night that feels like it will never end?


When time goes crawlin' by?
When every second seems to take forever to pass.


That old moon it just went behind the cloud
The full moon has disappeared behind a cloud, making the night even darker and sadder.


To hide it's face, hey and cry
The moon seems to be hiding its face, as if it too is shedding tears.


Did you ever, ever see the robin weep
Have you ever seen a robin (a symbol of new beginnings and hope) cry?


You know when leaves begin to die?
The robin is crying because it feels like everything is coming to an end and there is no hope left.


Well, that means he's lost the will to live
The robin's tears are a sign that it has lost the desire to keep going, just like the singer feels.


I'm gettin' so lonesome I, I-hi could cry
I am becoming even more lonely and sad, to the point where I feel like bursting into tears.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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