Music On Sundays: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

[a2zmom]

"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is a song that's so iconic, I'd be shocked if someone doesn't know it. Elvis Presley said it was the saddest song he'd ever heard and it's certainly in the top 5

Comments

[cornerofmadness]

it's interesting how they can all sound so different. I must admit, not one of my favorite songs (even though I can all too often relate). I particularly liked Johnny's and the Cowboy Junkies. The only version I own is Cassandra's.

[a2zmom]

I love the lyrics plus I like the fact that the song lends itself to radically different interpretations.

Do you have Wilson's album Blue Light Til Dawn? Just as good. Maybe better.

[cornerofmadness]

Hmmm I have a couple of hers but it's been a while since I dug them out so I don't remember

[a2zmom]

Definitely worth a listen if you do. She really knows how to set a mood.

[beer_good_foamy]

The Cowboy Junkies were my first exposure to this song, and that's still the one I relate to the most. (There's a version on their live album 200 More Miles that makes the album version sound positively poppy.) Hadn't heard Al Green's version before, I really like that one.

[a2zmom]

Poppy? Now that's weird since I thought this version was about as depressing as you can get.

Isn't Al Green's version cool? A complete re-imagining of the song.

[beer_good_foamy]

I thought this version was about as depressing as you can get.

In country, there's always more down. :) The live version is even slower, Margo Timmins sounds like her voice is going to crack any second, and there's the saddest pedal steel solo you'll ever hear. It's a pretty good live album.

I just listened to the Cassandra Wilson version, it's really good too. I do love it when people outside the immediate country fold cover Hank Williams.

ETA: I went looking for some more Hank covers and stumbled across this: a young Dylan singing "Lost Highway" to Joan Baez, who doesn't sound like she's heard it before (Hank isn't "folk" enough, I guess). Right at the end, he switches to - what else? - "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry".

[a2zmom]

I'm pretty sure you can hear Bob do the entire song from some other live show. Unfortunately, it's not on any album as of yet.

It always cracks me up to hear Baez and Dylan sing together. Poor woman is constantly changing key trying to keep up with Dylan;s non-singing singing.

[honoria]

Oh, wow, this is awesome. Linking on my lj--that okay?
Having crummy morning/week/year-so-far, and this just gave me a big happy.

[a2zmom]

I am so glad you enjoyed this! I love covers of songs and this particular song has such radically different interpretations.

And link away! Music is meant to be shared.

[lostakasha]

Oh, my heart. I don't own a different take, but it is one of my favorite songs. It reminds me of growing up, listening to the music of pain with my Dad who couldn't hold a tune in a bucket but who loved music and loved to sing along with Eddy Arnold, Slim Whitman, Lefty Frizzell, Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells, Tammy Wynette, Jim Reeves .... wow, what a wonderful, sad can of worms your post opened.

Boy, I miss him. The midnight train is whinin' low.....

[a2zmom]

I am so pleased this brought back some great memories of your dad. I feel the same way whenever I hear swing music. My dad loved that stuff.

[dabhug]

If only LJ had a like button.

[huronia]

This is the first version I heard, other than the original and it's my favourite:

http://youtu.be/Vh1G3SVXsHg

[a2zmom]

oh wow! That gorgeous, so thank you. I've just added it to my ever expanding list of albums to acquire.