About the song
Roy Orbison – Only the Lonely (Black & White Night 30)
Let’s turn back the clock to 1988. Imagine a stage bathed in stark black and white, a gathering of music royalty – Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, k.d. lang, Jackson Browne, just to name a few. And then, bathed in a single spotlight, steps out a man with sunglasses shielding his eyes, a man whose voice could make angels weep and devils tremble: Roy Orbison.
This wasn’t just any concert; it was Black & White Night, a legendary performance filmed for television that captured Orbison at his late-career peak. Among the classics that night, he performed “Only the Lonely,” a song that had already cemented its place in music history decades earlier.
Released in 1960, “Only the Lonely” wasn’t just a hit; it was a revelation. It showcased Orbison’s operatic vocals, soaring with a vulnerability and emotional depth rarely heard in popular music. The song’s arrangement, with its lush orchestration and echoing backing vocals, created a sound that was both grand and intimate, like a confession whispered in a cathedral.
But “Only the Lonely” is more than just a vocal showcase. It’s a masterpiece of songwriting, a perfect distillation of heartbreak and longing. The lyrics, penned by Orbison and Joe Melson, speak to the universal experience of lost love, of feeling isolated and alone in a world that suddenly seems empty. Lines like “Only the lonely/Know the way I feel tonight” and “Only the lonely/Know this feeling ain’t right” resonate with a raw honesty that cuts straight to the heart.
In the Black & White Night performance, Orbison delivers “Only the Lonely” with a power and poignancy that is simply breathtaking. His voice, weathered by time and experience, adds another layer of depth to the song’s already profound sadness. The stark black and white visuals enhance the performance’s emotional impact, creating a timeless quality that transcends the era in which it was filmed.
So, dim the lights, pour yourself a drink, and prepare to be transported by one of the greatest voices of all time. This is Roy Orbison, this is “Only the Lonely,” and this is a performance you won’t soon forget.
Video
Lyrics
Only the lonely
Only the lonely
Only the lonely
Know the way I feel tonight
Only the lonely
Know this feeling ain’t right
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
Only the lonely
Only the lonely
Know the heartaches I’ve been through
Only the lonely
Know I cry and cry for you
Maybe tomorrow
A new romance
No more sorrow
But that’s the chance
You gotta take
If your lonely heart breaks
Only the lonely