Words & Music:
Hank Snow
Hear that lonesome winter bird
He sounds too blue to fly
The midnight train is whining low
I'm so lonesome I could 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
I'm so lonesome I could cry
Recordingdate: 1973/01/14, first released on: Aloha from Hawaii (album)
Musicians
Musicians who contributed to the first recording of I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry:
(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
Others*
(baton)
(organ)
(vocals)
(percussion)
(clarinet)
(flute)
(sax)
(sax)
(sax)
(trombone)
(trumpet)
(trumpet)
(trumpet)
(trumpet)
(trumpet)
(trumpet)
(viola)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
*Orchestra, overdubs
Availability
Find available albums with I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry.
I love Hank Williams. Aloha's "I'm So Lonesome" was unlikely to match the original. But both this and "Cheatin' Heart" betray Elvis' country music roots. Would have been a good song to play in Nashville in 1973, along with "Faded Love". While Elvis endowed his Aloha version of "I'm So Lonesome" with much sadness, his 1973 home recording of the song is by far his best Hank Williams recording. It is sung (and played on guitar!) with such passion and warmth, Elvis could well be back at 706 Union Avenue.
Elvis's remarkable voice makes all the difference on that song...(I think I've heard such a statement before)...Hank himself would have liked E's version, that's for sure !
I will never forget the impact this song had on me while viewing the Aloha From Hawaii via Satelite show. His vocal prowess was coupled with a performance that has 'haunted' me for many years. The all-round Elvis in full bloom.
a song that matched his actual situation behind the music. and, why wasn't it performed more often after the Aloha-Special?!
Nice version but BJ Thomas has the best version of this song. A major hit in 1966.
The highlight of Aloha. Absolutely brilliant.
A great song which produced countless covers. Who did the best version is a matter of choice but my favourites are by both Johnny Cash and Elvis.Like someone said why didn't Elvis sing this song more often in concert?
He often stated it was the saddest song he's ever heard. Maybe that's why he didn't sing it more than he did.
Hank Williams would have been proud, if he could see the Aloha TV Special and hear the best version ever of his song "I`m so lonesome I could cry". I love Hank Williams music and this for sure is a masterpiece. So simple and so true is this story of this song for so many, maybe included Elvis back than.
I wish Elvis, would have recorded, a studio version of this song. (besides the "Live" Aloha version) It would have been the "ultimate version". By the way, Elvis did an "acoustic version" of this song in a private jam at Sam Thompsons home, which is featured on the "Made in Memphis"-FTD-CD. And it was a complete different take on the song. Just Elvis and his acoustic Guitar and it was really good !!
Watching him look for JD's approval when he sings this is amazing,, No One could ever then and now sing this song with such love and emotion!
A Hank Williams classic of which Elvis gives a good rendition during his most famous concert. Introduced as probably the saddest song I've ever heard, while he looks amused! The song is also a bit short and the lyrics are too dramatic for my taste (almost suicidal), but Elvis' warm voice makes up for it. Three stars from me.
While not one of the top five performances from the Aloha show, it is still a top-notch rendition of the country classic.
I like it and like the song itself but he doesnt sing it as if its the saddest song he's ever heard. He sings it warmly but BJ Thomas sang it with much more emotion & power. His version wins out as does the Hank original.
I can't stand BJ Thomas version, that annoying drum gets on my nerves. Hanks version was good,but Elvis beats him by far. His voice was so good here and he let us now in this show what he wanted to be and sing. 4 stars fot this song.5 for the show.
When Elvis did a cover version of a song, putting everything into it, he usually came up with the best version. This is one one those times. Would loved to heard how this song would have sounded given the full treatment in a studio recording. Possible single?
Elvis gives a good version of this song but it cant beat the original from Hank Williams.
The opening line should read "hear thast lonesome whip-poor-will" - it'e an American nightjar. I too prefer the original Hank Williams version but Elvis' is still very good.
A pretty good song overall but i am not to sure about this being any major highlight. For years now if i am not mistaken we only had the 2 versions. For a time we had only the the Aloha rehersal followed by the main show so pretty much a rare track. Now through the power of FTD we have a further 2 less formal versions on both Made In Memphis and the recent From Hawaii To Las Vegas. To now hear this track performed in a more informal setting has re-newed my interest in this song. In my opinion the latter 2 versions now trump the live.
Elvis changed the pace of the song, making it much slower then the original. That was a big improvement. With You're cheating heart, he did the opposite. A highlight from Aloha.
I never really understood why Elvis included this song in the set list of his biggest concert of his career and then hardly ever performed it again. All other songs except Welcome to my world were established and regular for that era. Burning Love came back in his set list 2 years later. Not that keen on this song but it’s not awful by any means. I wonder why he didn’t include I’m Leaving.