Long Lonely Nights
The Dells Lyrics


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Long, long and lonely nights
I cry my eyes out over you
Wondering if I did right
And why you left me
With a broken heart

Oh, long, long and lonely nights
Oh, how I miss you, my dear
Please, please, come back to me
How I wish you were here

As I go along my lonely way
I visualize your face
When I pass through my doorway
What's left for me to face

Oh, long, long and lonely nights
I guess you're never coming home
Long, long and lonely nights
Ever since you've been gone

As I go along my lonely way
I visualize your face
When I pass through my doorway
What's left for me to face

Oh, long, long and lonely nights
I guess you're never coming home
Long, long and lonely nights
Ever since you've been gone





Please, please, come back to me
You've been gone too long

Overall Meaning

The Dells' song "Long Lonely Nights" is a ballad of heartache, loneliness, and longing for a lost love. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer expressing their feelings of solitude as they cry and wonder about their decisions regarding the lost love. The singer goes on to express how much they miss their love and wishes for them to return. The repetition of "long, long and lonely nights" emphasizes the duration of the singer's pain and the difficulty of their experience.


The second stanza takes us through the singer's daily life, and how they imagine their love's face when they pass through their doorway. The singer seems to be grappling with a tremendous sense of loss, which has made it difficult for them to move on. In the final stanza, the singer comes to the realization that their love likely isn't coming back, though they still hold out hope. Here, the repeated plea for their love to return takes on added significance as it is a desperate cry for closure and hope for a future with their former love.


One interesting fact about "Long Lonely Nights" is that it was a significant hit for The Dells. The song was released in 1956 and reached #14 on the Billboard R&B chart. Another fact is that the song was written by Charles Singleton and Hy Weiss, who were both successful songwriters in the 1950s and 60s. Additionally, the song has been covered by several prominent artists, including Lee Andrews & The Hearts in 1957 and Bobby Vinton in 1965. The song is also notable for its use in several films, including the 1973 film American Graffiti and the 1989 film Goodfellas.


Line by Line Meaning

Long, long and lonely nights
The singer is very lonely and spends long nights by himself.


I cry my eyes out over you
The singer is deeply upset about their relationship and cannot stop crying.


Wondering if I did right
The singer is questioning whether their behavior led to the end of the relationship.


And why you left me
The singer is unsure of the reason for their partner's departure.


With a broken heart
The singer is emotionally shattered from the breakup.


Oh, how I miss you, my dear
The singer deeply longs for their lost partner.


Please, please, come back to me
The singer is desperate for their partner to return.


How I wish you were here
The singer desires for their partner's presence and love.


I visualize your face
The singer imagines their partner's appearance in their mind.


When I pass through my doorway
The singer feels lonely and empty when entering their home.


What's left for me to face
The singer is wondering what else they will have to endure due to their heartbreak.


I guess you're never coming home
The singer has given up hope on their partner's return.


Ever since you've been gone
The singer has been alone since their partner's departure.


You've been gone too long
The singer feels that their partner's absence has lasted too long and really wants them to return.




Writer(s): LEE ANDREWS, BERNICE DAVIS, DOUGLAS HENDERSON, MIMI UNIMAN

Contributed by Noah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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