About the Song
“Are You Lonesome Tonight?” is a song with a rich history, initially written by Roy Turk and Lou Handman in 1926. It saw several recordings in 1927, including versions by Charles Hart, Vaughn De Leath, Henry Burr, and the duet of Jerry Macy and John Ryan. In 1950, the Blue Barron Orchestra released a version that reached the top twenty on Billboard’s Pop Singles chart.
After Elvis Presley completed his two-year service in the U.S. Army in April 1960, he recorded “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” at the suggestion of his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Interestingly, Parker’s wife, Marie Mott, had a personal fondness for the song. Despite initial reservations from RCA Victor executives who thought the song didn’t align with Presley’s new style, it was eventually released in November 1960.
Upon its release, “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” achieved immediate success in the U.S., topping Billboard’s Pop Singles chart and reaching number three on the R&B chart. It also quickly climbed to the number one spot on the UK Singles Chart a month after its release. In 1983, Presley’s version of the song was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling 1,000,000 copies in the United States. The RIAA later upgraded its certification to a 2xPlatinum Record Award in 1992 for reaching 2,000,000 sales.
Over the years, “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” has been covered by various artists, with notable versions by Donny Osmond and Merle Haggard that became hits on the pop and country charts, respectively. In 2008, Billboard ranked the song at number 81 on its “Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs” list, highlighting its enduring popularity and impact.
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Lyrics
Are you lonesome tonight?
Do you miss me tonight?
Are you sorry we drifted apart?
Does your memory stray to a bright summer day
When I kissed you and called you sweetheart?
Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare?
Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?
Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?
I wonder if you’re lonesome tonight
You know someone said that the world’s a stage and each of us must play a part
Fate had me playing in love with you as my sweetheart
Act one was where we met
I loved you at first glance
You read your lines so cleverly and never missed a cue
Then came act two, you seemed to change, you acted strange
And why I’ve never known
Honey, you lied when you said you loved me
And I had no cause to doubt you
But I’d rather go on hearing your lies
Than to go on living without you
Now the stage is bare and I’m standing there
With emptiness all around
And if you won’t come back to me
Then they can bring the curtain down
Is your heart filled with pain
Shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?