I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
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| "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Hank Williams from the album Legend Lives Anew with Strings | |
| Released | 1949 |
| Genre | Country |
| Length | 2:46 |
| Writer | Hank Williams |
"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams in 1949. The song about loneliness was largely inspired by his troubled relationship with wife Audrey Sheppard. With evocative lyrics, such as the opening lines "Hear that lonesome whip-poor-will/He sounds too blue to fly," the song has been covered by a wide range of musicians.
Rolling Stone ranked it #111 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It is the second oldest song on the list, and one of only two from the 1940s.
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[edit] Cover versions
Among those who have recorded the song following Williams' death include Johnny Cash with Nick Cave, Marty Robbins, Ray Charles, Dean Martin, Al Green, Gary Morris, Stephan Eicher, B. J. Thomas (this version was a U.S. chart hit, peaking at #8), Cassandra Wilson, Dottie West, Diamanda Galás, Freddy Fender, The Raveonettes, The Mountain Goats, The Cowboy Junkies, Volbeat, and Atlas Sound.
- Johnny Cash and Nick Cave recorded a duet version of the song on Cash's critically acclaimed album American IV: The Man Comes Around
- Marty Robbins recorded a version of this song.
- Bob Dylan sings a version of the song in his hotel room in the documentary film Dont Look Back
- Bill Frisell plays an instrumental version on the 2000 album Ghost Town.
- Jimmie Dale Gilmore recorded the song on his 1993 album Spinning Round the Sun.
- The song was recorded by country singer Wynonna Judd for her 2009 album, Sing: Chapter 1.
- Little Richard covered the song on his 1971 album, The King of Rock and Roll
- The punk rock cover band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes has covered this song for their 2006 country-themed album Love Their Country.
- Elvis Presley did a version of the song in his popular Aloha from Hawaii TV-special (Presley introduced the song by saying "I'd like to sing a song that's...probably the saddest song I've ever heard.").
- Danish Metal/Country/Blues band Volbeat covered this song for their 2008 album Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood.
- Yo La Tengo used to play this song at their shows since 2005.
- Akiko Yano recorded this song with Pat Metheny in her album Oui Oui.
- Cowboy Junkies covered the song on their 1988 album "The Trinity Sessions".
[edit] Chart performance
[edit] Hank Williams version
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Billboard Country Singles | b-side of #2 "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" |
| 1966 | Billboard Country Singles | #43 |
Williams' version ranked #29 in CMT's 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music in 2003.
[edit] B. J. Thomas version
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Billboard Pop Singles | #8 |
[edit] Charlie McCoy version
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Billboard Country Singles | #23 |
[edit] Leon Russell version (credited to Hank Wilson)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 78 |
[edit] Terry Bradshaw version
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Billboard Country Singles | #17 |
[edit] Jerry Lee Lewis version
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Billboard Country Singles | #43 |
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