“It was a story about a breakup I was going through, and that situation where it's gotten into your head too much. Partially because somebody else is telling you that you're only hearing what you want to, and that puts you in a little bit of a tailspin.” »read more
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Are You Lonesome Tonight
byElvis Presley
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Songfacts: You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.
This song was written in 1926 by Tin Pan Alley songwriters Roy Turk and Lou Handman. It was a hit in 1927 for a number of artists including Vaughan Deleath (A female despite the name), Henry Burr and Gene Austin. In 1950 it was revived by the bandleader Blue Barron with his vocalist Bobby Beers, and Al Jolson cut a version in 1953. Elvis' manager Colonel Parker asked him to try the song because it was a favorite of Parker's wife, Marie. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)
Elvis did not believe he could do the song justice and asked for the tape to be thrown out. Steve Sholes, the RCA producer at the recording session, believed the recording would be a hit and directed its release.
Elvis had the studio lights completely turned off while recording the song.
Elvis' arrangement is generally considered closest to the arrangement of Blue Barron and his Orchestra. Elvis' narration is modified from the original narration of the Blue Barron release (which was later copied by Al Jolson).
The famous "Laughing Version" came from a 1969 Las Vegas performance unofficially recorded, and was released years after Elvis' death.
More songs by Elvis Presley
More songs that were hits for more than one artist
More songs about loneliness or isolation
More songs with a spoken part
Comments:
Al Johnson ends the spoken part with the sentence "...in the part of a broken clown". Elvis changed this to "with emptiness all around".
- David, Brunssum, Netherlands
He also used the "the bald head" lyric on June 25th 1968, during the rehearsals, for his upcoming NBC Special, wich can be heared on the Follow That Dream release "Let Yourself Go"! -Tony Versluis, Dordrecht, The Netherlands
- Tony, Dordrecht, Netherlands
The 1969 "laughing version" is the only version known in which Elvis used the "bald head" lyric. And it was in fact recorded officially by RCA, not unofficially. It was recorded along with other performances that were released on the Live at the International Hotel album, which included a non-laughing performance of this song recorded on another night. RCA released the "laughing versoin" for the first time in 1979. And it should not be confused with a similarly messed up version (apparently intentional) recorded in 1977 for the Elvis in Concert special and album.
- Alex, Calgary, Canada
In some live versions Elvis would change the line:
"Do you gaze at your doorstep/
And picture me there?/"
to:
"Do you gaze at your bald head/
And wish you had hair?/"
- Genevieve, Leongatha, Australia