I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Kasey Chambers Lyrics


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Hear the lonesome whippoorwill
He sounds too blue to fly
The midnight train is whining low
I′m so lonesome I could cry

I've never seen a night so long
When time goes crawling by
The moon just went behind a cloud
To hide it′s face and cry

Did you ever see a robin weep?
When leaves begin to die
That means he's lost the will to live
I'm so lonesome I could cry

The silence of a falling star
Lights up a purple sky




And as I wonder where you are
I′m so lonesome I could cry

Overall Meaning

Kasey Chambers's interpretation of the Hank Williams classic, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," is an emotive illustration of loneliness, desolation, and despair. In the opening verse, Chambers paints the picture of a lonely night as a whip-poor-will calls out in misery at the weight of its isolation. The melancholic sound of the midnight train amplifies the sense of loneliness pervading the scene. As the scene unfolds, the singer admits to feeling so isolated that the blue sound of the whip-poor-will is often too much to bear. In the second verse, Chambers describes the length of the night and how time seems to slither by ever so slowly. With the moon hidden behind a cloud, even the natural world is in distress, adding to the pervasive sense of deep loneliness. The singer reaches the apex of the song when she asks if the listener has ever seen a robin in distress as they sense the coming of winter, with death looming, causing a loss of will to live. It's not hard to envisage the weight of isolation through this imagery. In the final verse, the singer adds a touch of hope as she gazes upon the beauty of a shooting star, but even that poignant moment of wonder is fleeting as the loneliness returns, leaving the singer with the realization that she's all alone.


Line by Line Meaning

Hear the lonesome whippoorwill
Listen to the sad song of the whippoorwill.


He sounds too blue to fly
The bird's mournful song suggests it too is burdened by sadness.


The midnight train is whining low
The train's forlorn sound matches the singer's melancholy mood.


I'm so lonesome I could cry
The artist feels incredibly lonely and despondent.


I've never seen a night so long
The artist feels as if time has slowed to an excruciating crawl.


When time goes crawling by
The passage of time feels painfully slow and tedious.


The moon just went behind a cloud
Even the moon seems to be hiding away from the singer's sorrow.


To hide it's face and cry
The personification of the moon suggests that it also feels emotional pain.


Did you ever see a robin weep?
The artist is asking if the listener has ever witnessed a naturally happy creature feel the depths of sadness.


When leaves begin to die
The robin's tears coincide with the dying of the environment.


That means he's lost the will to live
The bird's inability to cope with its surroundings shows that it has given up on life altogether.


I'm so lonesome I could cry
The artist reiterates their profound sense of loneliness and despair.


The silence of a falling star
The gentle falling of a star contrasts with the singer's tumultuous emotions.


Lights up a purple sky
The beauty of the star's descent is juxtaposed with the singer's emotional turmoil.


And as I wonder where you are
The singer's loneliness is compounded by their worry for the whereabouts of a loved one.


I'm so lonesome I could cry
The final line reiterates the artist's overpowering sense of loneliness and distress.




Writer(s): Hank Williams, Sr.

Contributed by Colin F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Festus Hagan

Country music here in the States has died and turned to pop music. Thanks to Kasey and all the other Aussies for keeping it alive and well down under. Love you Kasey!

Mary Davies

Kasey and Troy you both have great Voices. I love you both ❤❤

Lissa Ingram

My two greatest Aussie singers.In fact they're just the greatest.!!!!!!!!!💜💜💜💜

Karlene B

Ohhhhhhh chills went right up my spine!!!! That harmony is right on point!! Beautiful! Thank you so much.

Mahika

Such sweet hearts are these two great voices what more can you say

fairlanewhip79

Both such humble and good people

clyde dvaz

Troy is gifted, most of all he's a terrific bloke ,

Wayne Winchester

Just brilliant - great mandolin solo by Troy, would've loved to have been there. Kasey is IMO Australia's greatest female singer/songwriter alongside Joy McKean. Can't wait to see her in concert later this year.

twoducks

Love it, the banter,the singing whats not to love :)

Buzzbox3rd

Speechless i am embarrassed to say i had never heard of Kasey, just amazing. Troy goes okay as well .

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