ROY ORBISON - ONLY THE LONELY

ONLY THE LONELY

ROY ORBISON

SONGWRITERS: JOE MELSON & ROY ORBISON

WHERE: LIVE ON AUSTIN CITY 1982

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: LONELY AND BLUE

LABEL: MONUMENT RECORDS

GENRE: ROCK AND ROLL

YEAR: 1960

"Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)" is a 1960 song written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson. Orbison's recording of the song, produced by Fred Foster for Monument Records, was the first major hit for the singer. It was described by The New York Times as expressing "a clenched, driven urgency". Released as a 45 rpm single by Monument Records in May 1960, "Only the Lonely" went to No. 2 on the United States Billboard pop music charts on 25 July 1960 (blocked by Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry") and No. 14 on the Billboard R&B charts. "Only the Lonely" reached Number One in the United Kingdom, a position it achieved on 20 October 1960, staying there for two weeks (out of a total of 24 weeks spent on the UK singles chart from 28 July 1960). The personnel on the original recording included Orbison's session regulars Buddy Harman on drums, Floyd Cramer on piano, Bob Moore on bass, and Hank Garland and Harold Bradley on guitar.

Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter and musician known for his distinctive, impassioned voice, complex song structures, and dark emotional ballads. The combination led many critics to describe his music as operatic, nicknaming him "the Caruso of Rock" and "the Big O". While most male rock-and-roll performers in the 1950s and 1960s projected a defiant masculinity, many of Orbison's songs instead conveyed vulnerability. His voice ranged from baritone to tenor, and music scholars have suggested that he had a three- or four-octave range. During performances, he was known for standing still and solitary, and for wearing black clothes, to match his dyed jet black hair and dark sunglasses, which lent an air of mystery to his persona.

(Dum, dum, dum, dumdy-do, ah)

(Whoa, yeah, yeah, yeah-yaa)

(Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa-oow, ah-ah)

(Only the lonely)

(Only the lonely)

Only the lonely

(Dum, dum, dum, dumdy-do, ah)

Know the way I feel tonight

(Whoa, yeah, yeah, yeah-yaa)

Only the lonely

(Dum, dum, dum, dumdy-do, ah)

Know this feeling ain't right

(Dum, dum, dum, dumdy-do, ah)

There goes my baby

There goes my heart

They've gone forever

So far apart

But only the lonely

Know why I cry

Only the lonely

(Dum, dum, dum, dumdy-do, ah)

(Whoa, yeah, yeah, yeah-yaa)

(Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa-oow, ah-ah)

(Only the lonely)

(Only the lonely)

Only the lonely

Know the heartaches I've been through

Only the lonely know I cry and cry for you

May be tomorrow

A new romance

No more sorrow

But that's the chance

You've gotta take

If you're lonely heartbreak

Only the lonely.