I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry
Thomas B.J. And The Triumphs Lyrics


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Did you hear the lonesome whippoorwill?
He sounds too blue to fly
The midnight train
Is whining low
And I'm so lonesome I could cry

Did you ever see
A night so long
When time goes crawlin' by?
The moon just went
Behind a cloud
And I'm so lonesome I could cry

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

The silence of
A fallin' star
Lights up a purple sky
And as I wonder where you are
I'm so lonesome I could cry

Yeah, I could cry
I could cry
I could cry




I could cry, oh
I could cry, I could cry

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Thomas B.J. And The Triumphs's song I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry explore the deep feeling of loneliness, which is reflected in the melancholic melody and slow rhythm of the song. The first stanza mentions the lonesome whippoorwill, which highlights the sense of isolation and despair. The imagery used in the second stanza of a long night spent waiting for something meaningful to happen, with the moon hiding behind the clouds, adds to the overall feeling of emptiness and detachment.


The third stanza uses the bird metaphor to convey the message of sadness and loss. The robin weeping signifies the inability to cope with the passing of time, which ultimately leads to giving up on life. The fourth and final stanza talks about the falling star, which symbolizes the loss of connection with someone special. The singer wonders where his loved one is, and this constant questioning creates an endless loop of loneliness and sorrow.


The repetition of the line "I'm so lonesome I could cry" emphasizes the overwhelming feeling of isolation and despair. The song's bleakness and sadness touched many people's hearts and made it an instant classic, especially for those going through a difficult period in their lives. The song's harmonious melody and gentle guitar picking evoke a sense of nostalgia that resonates with many of its listeners.


Line by Line Meaning

Did you hear the lonesome whippoorwill?
Have you ever heard the sad cry of the whippoorwill?


He sounds too blue to fly
The whippoorwill's cry is so sad that it seems like it can't even fly.


The midnight train Is whining low
The train that passes at night is making a sad, low whining sound.


And I'm so lonesome I could cry
The singer is feeling extremely sad and lonely.


Did you ever see A night so long When time goes crawlin' by?
Have you experienced a night that seems never-ending and time seems to pass very slowly?


The moon just went Behind a cloud And I'm so lonesome I could cry
The moon has disappeared behind a cloud, making the singer feel even more sad and lonely.


Did you ever see A robin weep When leaves begin to die?
Have you ever seen a robin cry when the leaves start falling?


That means he's lost The will to live And I'm so lonesome I could cry
The robin's tears show that it has lost the desire to live, making the singer feel even sadder and lonelier.


The silence of A fallin' star Lights up a purple sky
The bright light of a shooting star illuminates the purple sky while there is complete silence that makes it special.


And as I wonder where you are I'm so lonesome I could cry
Not knowing where the person he misses is makes the singer even sadder and lonelier.


Yeah, I could cry I could cry I could cry I could cry, oh I could cry, I could cry
The devastation is so immense that it makes the singer want to cry and he emphatically repeats it.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HANK WILLIAMS, SR.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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