I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry
Williams Hank Lyrics
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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 the clouds
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
In "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," Hank Williams Jr. puts his own stamp on his father's classic song. The opening lines establish the tone of the song with the lonely whippoorwill that sounds too sad to fly. The midnight train's whining only adds to the lonesomeness of the singer, who is so sad that he could cry. The first verse sets the mood for the emptiness that seems to pervade the singer's world.
In the second verse, the sense of isolation is palpable. The night is interminably long, and the moon has withdrawn behind the clouds, as if even it can't bear to witness the solitude. The imagery of the robin who weeps when the leaves begin to die is akin to the singer's sense of hopelessness. It's an acknowledgment of the larger cycle of life and death, reminding us that sometimes things come to an end, whether we want them to or not. It's another reminder that the singer is truly alone, with no one to share his pain.
The final verse offers a brief moment of respite from the song's heart-wrenching lament, as the falling star lights a purple sky. But even that momentary beauty only serves to accentuate the singer's separation from the one he loves. He thinks of his absent beloved and wonders where she is, while his heart aches to be with her. The song concludes with the repetition of the opening line, underscoring the sense that nothing has changed, and the singer remains as lonesome as ever.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear that lonesome whippoorwill
I can hear the sad bird's lonesome call
He sounds too blue to fly
His melancholy song suggests he's too sad to do anything but sing
The midnight train is whining low
I can hear the mournful sound of the passing train
I'm so lonesome I could cry
I'm feeling such deep loneliness that it could make me cry
I've never seen a night so long
This night seems to be lasting forever
When time goes crawling by
Time is moving so slowly it feels like it's barely moving at all
The moon just went behind the clouds
The moon disappeared behind the clouds
To hide its face and cry
As if it were crying, the moon vanished from sight
Did you ever see a robin weep
Have you ever witnessed a robin crying?
When leaves begin to die
When the leaves of autumn start to wither and fall off the trees
That means he's lost the will to live
The robin's sorrow implies he's given up on life
I'm so lonesome I could cry
The deep sense of isolation I'm experiencing right now could move me to tears
The silence of a falling star
The hush that follows the shooting star's streak across the sky
Lights up a purple sky
Illuminating the sky with a purple glow
And as I wonder where you are
Contemplating your whereabouts
I'm so lonesome I could cry
Feeling such painful isolation that I might start to cry
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dixienourmous10
Hear that 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
And time goes crawling by
The moon just went behind the clouds
To hide its face and cry
Did you ever see a robin weep
When leaves begin to die?
Like me, 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
That's a good one
It's a lonesome song, ain't it?
Ain't that lonesome, woo
Now you can't get any much lonesome right, can you?
Want to whip a will so lonesome it can't fly
He done got lonesome, man
@pre-debutera6941
Hear that 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 its face and cry.
Did you ever see a robin weep
When leaves began 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.
@mez8801
I'm Mexican American. I didn't grow up listening to old country music. But the first time I heard this song, I felt the grief and pain that has no borders or boundaries.
@Turan_Kazakhstan
Pendeho
@phillong8591
Storms pass brother. The sun always rises in the morning.
@ninllot
yo soy de sudamerica, y cuando escuche "true christmas" de Sabaton, derrame lagrimas
@jhilmer32
America has a rich cultural. The beauty of our country is that we can share it if we all buy in. My father was born in Texas and the Mexican and German influences in the music he grew up in follow me today.
@elizabethpelland8546
My grandpa Leo passed away last night at the very blessed age of 104 years...he loved Hank Williams and I'd always play his music when I'd visit. God be with you Grandpa ❤️🙏 I love you and will think of you 😘 till we meet again ❤
@MarcosBryant-mr7jw
What do you admire most about Hank
@cheerkidscheerleading4357
Elizabeth pelland I'm so sorry for your loss. 104 is amazing ❤ . Sending hugs and prayers from my family to yours. My Gramps passed at 88 . This was our song we listened together.
@sondrasmith2691
🙏 ♥
@kaymuldoon3575
My dad passed away in April 2023 at the age of 88. He loved Hank Williams.