Her musical talent may have been inherited; her father Richard Whiting, was a famous composer of popular songs. She also had an aunt, Margaret Young, who was also a singer and popular recording artist in the 1920s. In her childhood her singing ability was already noticed, and at the age of only seven she sang for singer-lyricist Johnny Mercer, with whom her father had worked on some popular songs. In 1942, Mercer started Capitol Records with two partners, and signed her as one of their earliest recording artists.
Until the mid-1950s, she continued to record for Capitol, but as she ceased to record songs that charted as hits, switched to Dot Records in 1958 and to Verve Records in 1960. She came back to Capitol in the mid-1960s, then went to London Records in 1966. On London, Whiting landed one last major hit single in 1966, "The Wheel Of Hurt," which hit #1 on the Easy Listening singles chart.
She continued to sing into the 1990s.
During the 1950s, she was married to record executive Lou Busch, who also recorded semi-anonymously as the ragtime pianist Joe "Fingers" Carr. They had one daughter. Her late-life marriage to younger gay porn star Jack Wrangler raised many eyebrows. When they first began dating, he protested, "But I'm gay!" to which she replied, "Only around the edges, dear."
She died on January 10, 2011 at the age of eighty-six.
I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry
Margaret Whiting Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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.
The lyrics of Margaret Whiting's song "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" express a deep sense of loneliness and sorrow. The reference to the whippoorwill is significant because the bird is known for its mournful call. The singer implies that even the bird seems too sad to fly. The mention of the midnight train and its low whine adds to the overall feeling of melancholy. The singer is desperate for someone to talk to or to share her misery with. The night feels incredibly long and even the moon has gone into hiding. The reference to the Robin weeping is metaphorical; it suggests that even the natural cycles of life and the beauty of the changing seasons cannot keep the singer from her sorrow.
The silence of a falling star is a poetic image that Whiting uses to convey a sense of wonder and longing. The falling star is beautiful but fleeting, much like the singer's feelings of hopelessness. The overall sense of solitude and isolation is extremely palpable throughout the song. The singer is lost and uncertain, unsure of where she belongs or who she can trust. The song is a poignant expression of loneliness that captures the essence of human despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear the lonesome whippoorwill
I hear a whippoorwill, a bird known for its melancholic call, that sounds like it is too sad to even fly.
He sounds too blue to fly
The bird's call sounds so sad it is as if it is incapable of flying.
The midnight train is whining low
I hear a train in the distance that is making a low, mournful sound.
I'm so lonesome I could cry.
I am feeling incredibly lonely and sad to the point where I feel like I could burst into tears.
I've never seen a night so long
This night seems never-ending and time seems to be moving incredibly slowly.
When time goes crawling by
Time is moving so slowly that it feels like it is crawling along.
The moon just went behind a cloud
The moon, often viewed as a symbol of comfort or reassurance, has disappeared behind a cloud, as if even it is hiding.
To hide its face a cry
The moon seems to be hiding because it too is feeling sadness and pain.
Did you ever see a Robin weep
Have you ever seen a robin cry tears of sorrow?
When leaves begin to die?
This would be an unusual sight, as birds do not cry. The sadness of the robin is compared to leaves dying, a natural sign of the changing of the seasons and the end of life.
That means he's lost the will to live.
If a normally cheerful, lively creature like a robin is weeping or showing signs of despair, it suggests that it has given up on life or lost hope.
I'm so lonesome I could cry.
My own sadness and loneliness is so overwhelming that I feel like I could cry tears of my own.
The silence of a falling star
A shooting or falling star, usually a symbol of wonder or excitement, is falling silently, adding to the melancholy tone of the song.
Lights up a purple sky.
The star is casting a soft, gentle light on the sky, creating an eerie purple glow.
And as I wonder where you are
As I think about you, the person I am missing and longing for, I am filled with uncertainty and doubt.
I'm so lonesome I could cry.
Once again, I am so lonely and sad that it feels like I could cry at any moment.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nipstertunes
Thank You So Much for watching it, Uli! I'm so glad you liked it! Take Care, my Friend. Jim
@LoveTheOConnor
Gorgeous, Jim!! Love Ms. Whiting's voice, and your pictures are fantastic. Thanks so much for sharing!!
@lindirig
Best version of all. Perfect pitch!!
@karenpurves6168
Look up Amy Lee. She is even better.
@dsanw
What a wonderful song, so full of emotions. You did a great video Jim. Thank you so much. Uli
@clyderf
Very few could do justice to this song other than Hank himself, but Margaret does a great job.
@nipstertunes
@azw596 He sure left us with a wonderful legacy of great songs. Songs that could be sung by others and in such a way as to honor the music and entertain us at the same time. This, to me, is one of those songs and one of those times. Thank You for watching it and for leaving such nice comments. It is very much appreciated! Jim
@whispperson
Love this Lady
@nipstertunes
@LoveTheOConnor Oh, Thank You, Heather! I love her songs. Thank You for the very nice comments and Thank You so much for watching the video! Jim