Only the Lonely
Motels Lyrics


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We walked the loneliest mile
We smile without any style
We kiss all together wrong
No intention

We lie about each other's drinks
We live without each other
Thinking what anyone would do
Without me and you

It's like I told you
Only the lonely can play

So hold on here we go
Hold on to nothin' we know
I feel so lonely
Way up here

You mention the time we were together
So long ago well I don't remember
All I know is it makes me feel good now

It's like I told you only the lonely can play
Only the lonely only the lonely can play

Only the lonely only the lonely can play
It's like I told you only the lonely can play




Only the lonely
Only the lonely can play

Overall Meaning

The Motels' "Only The Lonely" is a haunting and melancholic ballad that captures the essence of post-breakup remorse and loneliness. The song speaks to the time when two lovers have gone their separate ways, reminiscing about the past, and realizing that they were not meant for each other. The lyrics are poetic and profound, highlighting the isolation felt by the singer who is getting over the loss of his/her loved one.


In the first verse, the singer describes their current state of being alone, walking the loneliest mile with no sense of style or grace as they attempt to move on. The romantic tension between the singer and their ex-lover is also evident in the overdrawn kiss. With no intention of reconciliation, the two lie about each other's drinks and live without each other, pondering what life would be like without the other.


The chorus reveals the sorrow and pain as the singer sings, "Only the lonely can play." It's an honesty that seems to acknowledge that true love is hard to find and a more profound connection is lost, hence the loneliness that follows. The single bridge mentions memories that the singer has of their time together, suggesting that although the couple may have parted ways, there is still fondness of their time together. "Only The Lonely" highlights the sadness and confusion of a heartbreak that most people have felt at some point in their lives.


Line by Line Meaning

We walked the loneliest mile
We have gone through the most isolated and lonely path.


We smile without any style
We fake our emotions as we don't have any natural way of expressing them.


We kiss all together wrong
We share physical intimacy without understanding each other's needs, leading to a wrong approach.


No intention
Our actions are without any clear or purposeful motive.


We lie about each other's drinks
We don't have enough trust to confess the truth about the drinks we have.


We live without each other
We exist together but can't truly live, as we are not connected in the right way.


Thinking what anyone would do
We constantly wonder what others would do in our place, as we lack the courage to take ownership of our own actions.


Without me and you
We believe that our existence is meaningless without a connection between us.


It's like I told you only the lonely can play
The game of isolation and loneliness can only be understood and played by those who have experienced it.


So hold on here we go
We brace ourselves for the next phase of life, despite the hardships we have faced.


Hold on to nothin' we know
We try to hold on to whatever we can, even if that is not enough or not familiar.


I feel so lonely
Our loneliness has become overwhelming to the point where we can't ignore it anymore.


Way up here
We feel elevated but lonely, as we are not connected to anyone around us.


You mention the time we were together
Someone reminds us of a time when we had a connection, but it seems too distant to remember.


So long ago well I don't remember
We struggle to recall the memories of the past and how they made us feel.


All I know is it makes me feel good now
Despite not being able to remember clearly, the thought of a past connection fills us with joy.


Only the lonely only the lonely can play
The game of loneliness is only known to those who have experienced it.


Only the lonely only the lonely can play
Loneliness is a game that only a few can play and understand.


It's like I told you only the lonely can play
Loneliness can only be comprehended and played by those who have been through it.


Only the lonely
The feeling of loneliness can't be shared or understood by everyone.


Only the lonely can play
Loneliness is a game that only those who have experienced it can play and win by finding a way out of it.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., IMAGEM MUSIC INC
Written by: SAMMY CAHN, JIMMY VAN HEUSEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@DRourk

@@lazyway4555 Untrue...

The answer is complex, but it's not that. Music was dying long before people stopped buying records or CDs.

The 80s was the last of 3 amazing decades of music and the last of 6 amazing decades of movies. Yes, there's some good stuff since, but there's a marked decline in the quality of creativity coming out of Hollywood and the music world since.

There are more amazing songs and more amazing movies in any given year between ~1960-1990 than there is in an entire decade since 2000. The early 90s through the mid 00s is when the sharp decline occurred.

The why is indeed complex, but corporate greed and the propensity of the average Joe to fall for the corporate media marketing nonsense had quite a lot do with it.



All comments from YouTube:

@jonpaul3866

IT'S ALMOST 2024 WHO IS STILL LISTENING TO THIS 1982 CLASSIC?

@armorup10

Loved the Motels still listen to them .My Favorite 80's Music So Timeless....

@microminiskirt

ME TOO AND IT'S NOW 2024 AND THIS SONG IS BETTER THAN ANY OF THIS NEW NOISE THEY CALL MUSIC.@@armorup10

@matthewkeating5963

Yep, and on vinyl.

@microminiskirt

YES YOU GOT THAT RIGHT!
@@matthewkeating5963

@jonpaul3866

IT'S 2024 AND THIS SOUNDS BETTER THAN ANYTHING TODAY WHICH IS THAT NOISE TODAY THEY CALL MUSIC.🤢🤮@@armorup10

22 More Replies...

@shawnstarks1743

Unless you lived it, you will never understand what the early days of MTV meant to so many people. This is a song that makes you stop what your doing, listen, reminisce, and sometimes tear up about an era long ago. (SMH)

@user-yu9gl6zo6w

Rigth on

@sylvia22772

I’m listening to this ‘80’s classic in 2024 🎉

@joncabotxox9389

It’s still not the same as actually living in that awesome era. I miss it soooo much!!!

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