In 1957 while still in high school, Tillotson was making records and performing on stage; as a student at the University of Florida, he had his own musical variety show on regional television. Following graduation in 1959 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Communications, he signed with Cadence Records and moved to New York City to pursue his music career. In 1960, he recorded his first hit, a composition entitled "Poetry in Motion" (written by Anthony/Kaufman), that went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and #1 on the UK Singles Chart.
A "crossover" artist, several of Tillotson's songs were successful on both the country music charts and pop charts. He earned a Grammy Award nomination for another of his own compositions, "It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin," and also for the song "Heartaches by the Number," nominated for Best Vocal Performance of 1965. He also appeared in the 1963 film "Just for Fun" and sang the theme song for the 1965 Sally Field television comedy "Gidget".
In a career spanning more than 40 years, Tillotson has recorded 26 singles that made it onto Billboard's charts, and performed at venues across the United States and other places around the globe.
He was featured in the 1966 camp comedy The Fat Spy starring Jayne Mansfield, Jack E. Leonard, Phyllis Diller, Brian Donlevy and Jordan Christopher & the Wild Ones. This film was featured in the 2004 documentary The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made (#46).
Lonesome Town
Johnny Tillotson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And they call it lonesome town, where the broken hearts stay
You can buy a dream or two to last you all through the years
And the only price you pay is a heartful of tears
Goin' down to lonesome town, where the broken hearts stay
Goin' down to lonesome town to cry my troubles away
In the town of broken hearts the streets are paved with regret
There's a place where lovers go to cry their troubles away
And they call it lonesome town, where the broken hearts stay
You can buy a dream or two to last you all through the years
And the only price you pay is a heartful of tears
Goin' down to lonesome town, where the broken hearts stay
Goin' down to lonesome town to cry my troubles away
In the town of broken hearts the streets are paved with regret
Maybe down in lonesome town I can learn to forget
Johnny Tillotson's "Lonesome Town" is a song that depicts a place where people go to heal their broken hearts. The song's lyrics masterfully describe the setting of Lonesome Town, where people can go to weep about their lost love. Tillotson sings about how people can buy dreams to help them cope with their shattered hearts, but the price they pay is a heart full of tears. The lines "In the town of broken hearts the streets are paved with regret/Maybe down in lonesome town I can learn to forget" illustrate the idea that Lonesome Town is a place where people go to forget their painful experiences.
The song's themes are relatable and emotional for anyone who has experienced heartbreak. Tillotson's lyrics conjure up images of a sad, lonely place where people congregate to grieve their lost love. It's a song that's easy to sing along to, and its sweet melody and heartfelt lyrics make it a classic.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a place where lovers go to cry their troubles away
There is a specific destination where heartbroken people go to seek comfort and alleviate their problems.
And they call it lonesome town, where the broken hearts stay
This location has been given a name - Lonesome Town - and it is where those who are brokenhearted tend to reside.
You can buy a dream or two to last you all through the years
Within Lonesome Town, there are ways to temporarily forget sorrow by purchasing hopeful dreams.
And the only price you pay is a heartful of tears
However, the cost of obtaining these dreams is heavily emotional, as the sorrow and heartache you were attempting to escape ultimately remain with you.
Goin' down to lonesome town, where the broken hearts stay
This line is a repetition of the chorus, indicating that the artist is traveling to Lonesome Town, where other heartbroken individuals are known to reside.
Goin' down to lonesome town to cry my troubles away
The singer is seeking temporary solace within Lonesome Town by releasing their emotional pain through tears.
In the town of broken hearts the streets are paved with regret
This line paints a picture of Lonesome Town being a desolate and regretful place, where the collective heartbreak of its inhabitants is tangible.
Maybe down in lonesome town I can learn to forget
The artist is hopeful that by granting themselves temporary respite within Lonesome Town, they may forget their sorrow and heal their broken heart.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Thomas Baker Knight
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind