Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight? Lyrics

Elvis Presley Lyrics

"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 brighter 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 are lonesome tonight
You know someone said that the world's a stage, and each 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?

Submit Corrections

Thanks to Tricia Deini Lopez, Edika Renae for correcting these lyrics.

Writer(s): Roy Turk, Lou Handman

This song was originally written by Roy Turk and Lou Handman in 1926.

Manager Colonel Tom Parker suggested Elvis Presley to record this track because "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" was Parker's wife's favorite song.

Elvis Presley was unsure that he could do the song justice and wanted to throw out the tape. Steve Sholes, the RCA producer at the recording session, believed it would be a hit and directed its release.

Connie Francis wished to record this song in 1960, too, because she liked Al Jolson's version of it. So, she called producer Don Costa in to do the arrangement. Francis told DISCoveries Magazine, "We were in the car on our way to New York when the radio played Elvis' 'new single' 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?' Can you believe that? I was literally on my way to the studio to record it. How do you like that? Elvis even did the recitation part just like Al Jolson did."

A version of the song by Elvis Presley was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1992.

There is a version of this track, recorded during one of his Las Vegas shows on the 26th of August 1968, where Elvis Presley changed some lines of the second verse to "Do you gaze at your bald head and wish you had hair" and laughed on the bridge. That version was released on Elvis Aron Presley box set in 1980.

compilation: "Elvis' Golden Records Volume 3" (1963)

Elvis Presley - Elvis' Golden Records Volume 3 compilation cover

Are You Lonesome Tonight?

(Marie's The Name Of) His Latest Flame

Little Sister

Good Luck Charm

Anything That's Part Of You

She's Not You

album: "Elvis In Person At The International Hotel" (1969)

Elvis Presley - Elvis In Person At The International Hotel album cover

Blue Suede Shoes

Johnny B. Good

All Shook Up

Are You Lonesome Tonight?

Hound Dog

I Can't Stop Loving You

Can't Help Falling In Love

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"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" lyrics

Elvis Presley Lyrics