ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT?
(Roy Turk / Lou Handman)
Vaughn Deleath - 1927
Henry Burr - 1927
Blue Barron & His Orch. (vocal: Bobby Beers & The Blue Notes -
- Narration: John McCormick) - 1950
Jaye P. Morgan - 1959
Elvis Presley - 1960
Frank Sinatra - 1962
Donny Osmond - 1974
Jeannie C. Riley - 1977
John Schneider & Jill Michaels - 1983
Also recorded by: Ray Anthony; Pat Boone; Doris Day;
Roger Whittaker; Ray Conniff; The Countdown Singers;
Connie Francis; Don Gibson; Ken Griffin; Al Martino;
Merle Haggard; Engelbert Humperdinck; The Mavericks;
Don Cornell; Al Jolson; Brian Hyland; The Lettermen;
Moms & Dads; Anne Murray; Vera Lynn; Fausto Papetti;
Tiny Tim; Helmut Lotti; Helen Shapiro; Dottie West;
Bryan Ferry; Tommy Scott: ........ and many others.
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
NARRATION:
"I wonder if you're lonesome tonight
You know someone said the the worlds a stage
And each must play a part
Fate had me playing in love with you as my sweetheart
Act One was when 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
***The narration did not form part of the original lyrics.
It was popularised in the 1950 version by Blue Barron and
his Orchestra, spoken by John McCormick.
Elvis Presley, who had a liking for song narrations, used
it in his famous 1960 recording of the song.
******
as rec by Vera Lynn
Tonight I'm downhearted,
For though we have parted
I love you and I always will;
And while I'm so lonely
I'm writing you only
To see if you care for me still.
Are you lonesome tonight?
Do you miss me tonight?
Are you sorry we drifted apart?
Does your memory stray
To a bright Summer's 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?
Are you lonesome tonight?
Do you miss me tonight?
Are you sorry we drifted apart?
Does your memory stray
To a bright Summer's 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?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?
(Transcribed by Peter Akers - May 2011)
