"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is a song recorded by American country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams in 1949. The song has been covered by a wide range of musicians. During his Aloha from Hawaii TV-special, Elvis Presley introduced it by saying, "I'd like to sing a song that's... probably the saddest song I've ever heard."
Hank Williams version
According to Colin Escott's 2004 book Hank Williams: A Biography, Williams was inspired to write the song when he found it on a schedule of upcoming MGM releases. The song was recorded on August 30, 1949, at Herzog Studio in Cincinnati, Ohio. Williams is backed by members of the Pleasant Valley BoysZeke Turner, Jerry Byrd, and Louis Innis as well as Tommy Jackson and Ernie Newton. As Escott observed, the plaintive despair in Williams's voice on the recording is echoed by the backing of the musicians: The song was released as the B-side to the blues "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" because up-tempo numbers were deemed more appropriate for the jukebox trade than melancholy ballads. The single reached No. 4 on the country chart in 1949. "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" has become closely identified with Williams's musical legacy and has been widely praised. In the 2003 documentary The Road to Nashville, singer k.d. lang stated, "I think 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry' is one of the most classic American songs ever written, truly. Beautiful song." In his autobiography, Bob Dylan recalled, "Even at a young age, I identified with him. I didn't have to experience anything that Hank did to know what he was singing about. I'd never heard a robin weep, but could imagine it and it made me sad." In its online biography of Williams, Rolling Stone notes, "In tracks like 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry', Williams expressed intense, personal emotions with country's traditional plainspoken directness, a then-revolutionary approach that has come to define the genre through the works of subsequent artists from George Jones and Willie Nelson to Gram Parsons and Dwight Yoakam." Rolling Stone ranked it No. 111 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, the oldest song on the list, and No. 3 on its 100 GreatestCountry Songsof All Time.
Authorship
Music journalist Chet Flippo and Kentucky historian W. Lynn Nickell have each claimed how 19-year-old Kentuckian Paul Gilley wrote the lyrics, then sold the song to Williams along with the rights, allowing Williams to take credit for it. They stated that Gilley also wrote the lyrics to "Cold, Cold Heart" and other songs before drowning at the age of 27. However, Williams said he wrote the song originally intending that the words be spoken, rather than sung, as he had done on several of his Luke the Drifter recordings.
Cover versions
American singer–songwriter BJ Thomas recorded this song in 1966.
Al Green performed the song on his 1973 album Call Me.
Terry Bradshaw, at the time the starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, recorded the song in 1976. Bradshaw's version was a top-20 hit on the country charts.
Cowboy Junkies covered the song on their 1988 album The Trinity Session
King Missile covered the song on their 1991 "My Heart Is a Flower" single.
John Waite covered the song on his 1995 album Temple Bar
Akiko Yano released a cover of "I'm So Lonesome I could Cry" in her 1997 album Oui Oui.
Keb' Mo' covered the song for the Hank Williams tribute albumTimeless.
Johnny Cash covered the song on multiple occasions, including on the album' in a duet with Nick Cave, a lifelong fan of Cash who picked the song after Rick Rubin asked him what song he would most like to sing if the two were to collaborate.
Everlast has covered the song in concerts, and sampled the original for the song "This Kind Of Lonely" on the 2004 albumWhite Trash Beautiful.
Volbeat covered this song on their 2008 album Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood
Australian singer Gina Jeffreys covered the song on her album, Old Paint.
Evanescence singer Amy Lee performed the song at the 2012 live tribute concert '.
Hurray for the Riff Raff covered the song on the 2013 album My Dearest Darkest Neighbor.* Guitarists John Scofield's album Country For Old Men contains an instrumental jazz interpretation.
Yo La Tengo covered this song on their 2016 album Stuff Like That There
Chart performance
Hank Williams version
Williams' version ranked No. 29 in CMT's 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music in 2003.
