“These are not ordinary song titles. They have a certain bite to them. And I guess that would be something I would be proud of.” »read more
Saturday, November 21, 2009 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G |
| H | I | J | K | L | M | N |
| O | P | Q | R | S | T | U |
| V | W | X | Y | Z | # |
Browse Categories Random Songfact Random Category Add to Songfacts Take the Quiz SongFAQ Get the Newsletter E-Mail Us Message Boards Full Interviews Lyrical Pursuit Song Fallacies
Get the Ringtone
Get Song @ Amazon
Get the Sheet Music
Songfacts: You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.
Roy Orbison wrote this but intended to offer the song to either Elvis Presley or the Everly Brothers (who had already recorded Orbison's song "Claudette"). The Everly Brothers persuaded Orbison that he should cut it himself.
Part of the title was put into brackets to avoid confusion with "Only The Lonely," which Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen had written for Frank Sinatra in 1958.
This quickly became Orbison's biggest hit and one of the songs that exemplified his heart-wrenching lyrics and soulful vocal delivery as he sings about what it's like to be lonely.
When Orbison was in The Traveling Wilburys with Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, George Harrison and Jeff Lynne, he wrote a sequel to this song called "Lonely No More." (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for all above)
More songs by Roy Orbison
More songs about loneliness or isolation
More songs that have sequels
Comments:
What a voice... what a VOICE! I agree with Linc from TX, one of the most underrated artist in music history. His vocal range was ridiculous. All his songs remind me of my folks...my mother has always said that his voice was far superior to Elvis' and the more I hear his music the more I agree with her. "...I cry...only the lonely."
- German, Costa Mesa, CA
One of the most over looked music greats - really
- Linc, Beaumont, TX