Mr. Lonely

Album: Roses Are Red (1962)
Charted: 1
Play Video
  • Lonely, I'm Mr. Lonely
    I have nobody for my own
    Now I am so lonely, I'm Mr. Lonely
    Wish I had someone to call on the phone

    Now I'm a soldier, a lonely soldier
    Away from home through no wish of my own
    That's why I'm lonely, I'm Mr. Lonely
    I wish that I could go back home

    Letters, never a letter
    I get no letters in the mail
    I've been forgotten, yes, forgotten
    Oh, how I wonder, how is it I failed

    Now I'm a soldier, a lonely soldier
    Away from home through no wish of my own
    That's why I'm lonely, I'm Mr. Lonely
    I wish that I could go back home Writer/s: Bobby Vinton, Gene Allan
    Publisher: Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 10

  • James MassingillI heard a man named James Massingill wrote a letter with the words of this song to a girl back in Kentucky named Mary Bosenbark while he was shipped overseas to war. Did Vinton somehow get this letter or something and make it a song?
  • Carol B from Lancaster ScWho was the boy in Bobby Vinton's Mr lonely video? Bobby Vinton was in my day...beautiful inside and out
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn November 20th 1966, Bobby Vinton performed "Coming Home Soldier" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
    At the time the song was at #73 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and seven weeks later on January 1st, 1967 it peaked at #11 {for 3 weeks} and spent 12 weeks on the Top 100...
    It was written by Bobby Vinton and Gene Allan as a sequel to his #1 hit "Mr. Lonely"*; which reached #1 {for 1 week} on December 6th, 1964...
    Between 1962 and 1980 he had forty-four records make the Top 100 chart; nine made the Top 10 with four reaching #1, besides “Mr. Lonely” the three others were “Roses Are Red (My Love)’ {for 4 weeks in 1962}, "Blue Velvet" {for 3 weeks in 1963}, and "There! I've Said It Again" {for 4 weeks in 1964}…
    Mr. Vinton, born Stanley Robert Vinton, Jr., will celebrate his 80th birthday in five months on April 16th {2015}...
    * "Mr. Lonely" was also penned by Bobby Vinton and Gene Allan.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn October 24th 1964, Bobby Vinton performed "Mr. Lonely" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    The very next day on October 25th, 1964* it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #70...
    Following "Mr. Lonely" Mr. Vinton's next two charted records also were of a 'lonely' nature: "Long Lonely Nights" {peaked at #17} and then came "L-O-N-E-L-Y" {it reached #22}...
    * In one of my posts below I stated that the song entered the Top 100 on October 31st, 1964; but Billboard Magazine publishes their charts for 'the week ending' and that day is a Saturday, so entries actually enter the chart on the Sunday before.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 19th, 1964, Bobby Vinton performed a medley of three of his #1 records; "Blue Velvet," "Roses Are Red (My Love)," and "There! I've Said It Again" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
    He had one other #1, "Mr. Lonely", which peaked for one week later in 1964...
    At the time of his appearance on 'Sullivan' he was in his 4th and final week at #1 with the "There!" record, the very next week the Beatles started their run of 14 consecutive weeks in the top spot with "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (7 weeks), "She Loves You" (2 weeks), and "Can't Buy Me Love" (5 weeks).
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 2nd, 1964 Bobby Vinton performed "Mr. Lonely" on the ABC-TV program 'Shindig!'...
    Two months earlier on October 31st it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on December 12th it peaked at #1 (for 1 week) and spent 15 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #3 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
    R.I.P. Jimmy O'Neill (Shindig's host, 1940 - 2013), Mr. Vinton turns 79 this coming April 16th, 2014, and Mr. Greco, born Armando Greco, will celebrate his 88th birthday next year on August 14th, 2014.
  • Vinícius from Fortaleza, BrazilThis song talks about a man who is isolated from the society and no one knows him, that's why It's called "Mr. Lonely"
  • Alan from Grande Prairie, Alberta, CanadaI believe Mr. Lonely was the last American recorded song to go to #1 before the Beatles hit the charts.
  • Alex from -, AustraliaIn 2005, the R & B artist Akon, requested that that this Vinton classic could be reworked into his new release cover, and succesfully released the chart topping; "Lonely".
  • Steve from Salt Lake City, UtThe artist Bobby Vinton did not want to mention who Epic gave this song to instead of him is Buddy Grecco, a more middle aged MOR crooner.
    His version is quite lackluster tho I believe the backing track is exactly the same. Sorry for name dropping your nemesis!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy TalentSongwriter Interviews

The frontman for one of Canada's most well-known punk rock bands talks about his Eddie Vedder encounter, Billy Talent's new album, and the importance of rock and roll.

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.