“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.“
– Roy Orbison speaking about the song Only the Lonely in 1980.
Only the Lonely was the first song I heard by Roy Orbison as a young’un and it remains my Desert Island track by him. It might not hit the powerful heights of Crying or compare to the infectious groove of Oh, Pretty Woman, but Only The Lonely is nuts and bolts – Roy Orbison. He had this ability to convey both vulnerability and strength at the same time. His singing style was unique of course and his vocal range was beyond impressive. He was often referred to as “The Caruso of Rock”. His emotional ballads set him apart from other male rock-and-roll performers of his time.
The doo-wop backed Only the Lonely marked a breakthrough at the start of Roy Orbison’s illustrious music career, establishing the emotional vulnerability and soaring vocal style that became his signature. The recording features an irresistible falsetto note hit by Orbison that showcased a surprisingly powerful voice. Decades later, Not Alone Anymore, recorded with the Traveling Wilburys in 1988, poignantly bookended his career. While Orbison’s voice had matured, the same melancholy was present, now tinged with the wisdom of experience. I consider ‘Not Alone Anymore‘ not only one of the most underrated tracks across the Wilburys’ two volumes, but one of the most affecting performances of his entire career, at least from what I have heard.
Now onto Only the Lonely. Most of the following was extracted / abridged from the Wikipedia article below:
Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel) is a 1960 song written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson. It was the first major hit for the singer. It went to No. 2 in the US (blocked by Brenda Lee’s I’m Sorry). Only The Lonely reached number one in the UK and stayed there for two weeks (out of a total of 24 weeks spent in the chart) – the longest charting single of Orbison’s career. In 1999, the 1960 recording of “Only the Lonely” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
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. In early 1960, they wrote “Only the Lonely“, which they tried to sell to Elvis Presley and the Everly Brothers, who turned it down. So they recorded it themselves.
Dum dum dum, dummy doo wah
Ooh yay, yay, yay, yeah
Oh oh oh oh wah
Only the lonely, only the lonely
Only the lonely
(Dum dum dum, dummy doo wah)
Know the way I feel tonight
(Ooh yay, yay, yay, yeah)
Only the lonely
(Dum dum dum, dummy doo wah)
Know this feeling ain’t right
(Dum dum dum, 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
Only the lonely
(Dum dum dum, dummy doo wah)
Know the heartaches I’ve been through
(Ooh yay, yay, yay, yeah)
Only the lonely
(Dum dum dum, dummy doo wah)
Know I cry and cry for you
(Dum dum dum, dummy doo wah)
Maybe tomorrow, a new romance
No more sorrow but that’s the chance
You’ve gotta take, if your lonely heart breaks
Only the lonely
(Dum dum dum, dummy doo wah)
References:
1. Only The Lonely – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I’ve never bought that you had to “feel” the way the song ~ or poem or whatever it is ~ presents to be able to write the feelings of the song. I know that’s the popular attitude & it’s been promoted by people like Janis Joplin ~ who wasn’t really known for songwriting ~ but there’s something called IMAGINATION that seems to have been forgotten in today’s culture. That you can imagine how other people might feel or how they live or anything. When I was coming up, an active imagination was all you needed to write ANYTHING. Now people get offended if you write about something that you haven’t lived yourself but only imagined.
Hi Polly,
There is so much to unpack in your discerning comment here that I don’t know where to start. Obviously, in retrospect Orbison would experience the depths of horror which few other humans have encountered with the deaths of his two eldest sons in a house fire in 1968. Also before his fellow songwriter – Joe Melson came a knocking, he was battling – without much success and sharing a tiny apartment with his wife and new baby. Also many of the most famous music artists including Presley and Sinatra – although given many songs on a platter to convey on a commercial level – had also at some stage plummeted with their own personal hardships and battles. Where am I going with this? I suppose, there are few music artists I can think of who haven’t been put through the ringer even if the song they performed wasn’t of their own design or related directly to their own experiences.
I think there’s several ways to write about your experiences.
One, of course, is to write about them as they are happening.
Two, is to write about them after the fact ~ for whatever reasons. The experience was too traumatic & you weren’t able to write about it when it was happening or you just didn’t have the time to write about it or the words were still forming in your head.
I’m a combination of the two ~ I carry a small notebook with me everywhere I go & I am constantly jotting ideas & feelings & impressions of what I see ~ I’ve done this for well over 50 years.
But yeah, I was talking about something else ~ the ability to imagine a situation that doesn’t have anything to do with your own reality.
As for “Only the Lonely” ~ who hasn’t felt lonely at one time or another? It’s a universal feeling.
But Orbison may not have been writing about his own loneliness. He could have been at the diner, at the bar, in a park, anywhere at all & observed ~ & felt ~ the loneliness of other people. & wrote it about it, because that’s what writers do.
“Ah, look at all the lonely people” as another famous song sings.
‘I carry a small notebook with me everywhere I go & I am constantly jotting ideas & feelings & impressions of what I see ~ I’ve done this for well over 50 years.’
That’s fascinating Polly. You must have some engrossing stories to pass on. Have you published some? I remember Larry David (from ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm fame’) saying he always carried a notebook as well.
By the way, I completely agree with your thoughtful reflections on the writing process — how the spark for a piece may not stem from the writer’s own experience, but rather from something imagined or observed in others.
Ah yes, ‘look at all the lonely people’ is an excellent case in point.
Dude, I love Larry David. “Curb” is one of my favorite shows. I love “Seinfeld” too.
Lots of writers carry notebooks with them.
I’ve had a few things published but I have to admit ~ I’m really lazy when it comes to pursuing publication. That’s the sad truth.
I’m trying to work on getting my diary into a form that can be published but the problem is the names of all the people in the diary ~ either you get everyone’s permission to use their names ~ which will be almost impossible, if not totally impossible ~ I guarantee you, my own family will NOT be on board with this ~ so then it all turns into fiction, which kinda defeats the whole project.
So I don’t know. I just keep writing. It’s what I do. It’s what I’ve been doing since before I even knew how to write. LOL
That’s great you love those shows too…. which reminds me I should give Curb another revisit since its been a few years. Seinfeld I watched regularly (more times than what’s considered healthy) with my kids who are also mega-fans.
While I didn’t carry a notebook, I began writing after my military career ended—an autobiography during a particularly dark, confused, and lonely time. Years later, with some hindsight, I realized that only about 50 of the 300 pages I wrote felt truly publishable. I’ve since split those 50 pages into smaller pieces and gradually shared them here under the ‘Reflections’ menu.
I can see how changing the names of your diary for publishing purposes (which I did in my draft) kind of defeats the whole purpose. I now recall the experience more as a therapeutic exercise than a writing endeavour for publishing purposes. The writing quality and story (as an entire document) just isn’t there.
I think by keeping on writing and the natural curiosity associated with the process is the most gratifying habit / passion there is. Like you, I don’t know what else to do. Hehe.
One of many great Roy Orbison songs! Those early songs like It’s Over, Crying, Running Scared and In Dreams remain some of the best songs every recorded (in my opinion). I was so happy to see his career make a comeback in the late 80’s. Who knows what could have been if his life hadn’t been cut short.
I have said before that Not Alone Anymore is a masterpiece! I read where they had intended it to be another group song, but George and the rest of the group all agreed that it had to be Roy singing it.
I didn’t know (or remember) that ‘Not Alone Anymore’ was intended to be another group song. Perhaps it was mentioned in that wonderful mini doc on the making of the record which i imagine you have seen.
I generally love Roy Orbison and think “Caruso of Rock” is a great way to characterize his operatic voice. The first Orbison song I recall hearing was “Oh, Pretty Woman,” which I dug right away. I’m pretty sure it was on a Sunday evening oldies program on my favorite pop radio station back in Germany while growing up there. I listened to that show almost every Sunday for many years. “Only The Lonely” was instant love as well.
Uhuh, the ‘Caruso of Rock’ label certainly sticks and is very applicable as you said. Oh, Pretty Woman – your first foray is one of the most recognisable and iconic pop tunes ever and perhaps due to its over saturation commercially – I now prefer other Roy songs. You pinpointing where you most likely heard it was cool.