After playing Eagles’ songs most of last week, I was rather at a loss as to where to go next.  I asked a few of you for suggestions, and John H suggested Roy Orbison and mentioned his “Black and White” concert.  So, I took a look, and found my song for tonight!

This is a sad song, and given the multiple tragedies in Orbison’s life (his wife died in a car accident, his home burned down, killing two of his sons) one might think this song was a product of his personal sadness.  But, according to Roy Orbison, you’d be wrong …

“I’ve always been very content when I wrote all those songs. By this I’m saying that a lot of people think you have to live through something before you can write it, and that’s true in some cases, but I remember the times that I was unhappy or discontent, and I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t communicate, and I certainly couldn’t write a song, no way. All the songs I wrote that were successful were written when I was in a contented state of mind.”

Roy Orbison wrote this with his songwriting partner Joe Melson, but intended to offer the song to either Elvis Presley or the Everly Brothers, but the Everly Brothers persuaded Orbison that he should cut it himself.  I think the story of how Orbison and Melson hooked up is fun …

After several years without much success in the music business, and sharing a tiny apartment with his wife and new baby, Roy Orbison had taken to sitting in his car to write songs when, in 1958, his acquaintance Joe Melson tapped on the car window and suggested they collaborate. – Wikipedia

This song reached #1 in the UK and #2 in the U.S.

Only the Lonely
Roy Orbison

Only the lonely (dum-dumb-dummy doo-wah)
Know the way I feel tonight (ooh yay, yay, yay, yeah)
Only the lonely (dum-dumb-dummy doo-wah)
Know this feeling ain’t right (dum-dumb-dummy doo-wah)

There goes my baby
There goes my heart
They’re gone forever
So far apart

But only the lonely
Know why I cry
Only the lonely (dum-dumb-dummy doo-wah, ooh yay, yay, yay, yeah)
(Oh, oh oh oh oh ooh-ah-ah, only the lonely)
(Only the lonely)

Only the lonely (dum-dumb-dummy doo-wah)
Know the heartaches I’ve been through (ooh yay, yay, yay, yeah)
Only the lonely (dum-dumb-dummy doo-wah)
Know I cry and cry for you (dum-dumb-dummy doo-wah)

Maybe tomorrow
A new romance
No-o-o more sorrow
But that’s the chance
You’ve got to take
If your lonely heart breaks
Only the lonely (dum-dumb-dummy doo-wah)

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Joe Melson / Roy Orbison
Only the Lonely lyrics © Barbara Orbison Music Company, Roy Orbison Music Company, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BMG Rights Management