Don Gibson – Oh Lonesome Me

I have heard this song all of my life and never knew much about it. I like the song because of the sad lyrics set against upbeat music.

Don Gibson wrote this song and it was produced by a legend of country music…Chet Atkins. Atkins, meanwhile, was inducted into the Country Music, Rock & Roll, and Musicians Halls of Fame. Atkins is also one of the primary figures credited with creating the “Nashville sound,” which transformed country music in the 1950s with a sound much cleaner and smoother than the style that preceded it.

Gibson released this in 1958 and it peaked at #7 on the Billboard 100. This was his only top-10 entry in the pop charts. Gibson, an inductee of the Country Music, Nashville Songwriters, and North Carolina Music Halls of Fame, wrote multiple songs now considered country standards.

It’s been covered by a lot of artists. Neil Young and The Kentucky Headhunters are just two that covered the song as well. It was the biggest hit The Headhunters had and it peaked at #8 on the Billboard Country Charts and #19 on the Canadian Country Charts in 1990.

Others who covered it are  Johnny Cash who took it to #13 Country and #93 on the Hot 100 in 1961…Stonewall Jackson’s 1970 rendition went to #63 Country. Other acts to cover the song include Bing Crosby, Bob Luman, Southern Culture on the Skids, Ray Charles, Connie Francis, and Bobbi Martin.

Neil Young covered it on his album After The Gold Rush in 1970.

Oh Lonesome Me

Everybody’s going out and having fun
I’m a fool for staying home and having none.
I can’t get over how she set me free.
Oh, lonesome me.

There must be some way that I can lose these lonesome blues
Forget about my past and find someone new
I’ve thought of everything from A to Z
Oh, lonesome me.

I’ll bet she’s not like me.
She’s out and fancy free,
Flirting with the boys with all her charms
But I still love her so,
And brother don’t you know
I’d welcome her right back here in my arms

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

33 thoughts on “Don Gibson – Oh Lonesome Me”

  1. One of songwriting greats of Country music. I love this song and I’ve heard many great covers , thanks for the ones you provided. I’m a bit of a Beau Brummels fan and I like they’re different take.

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  2. It seems like everyone was covering this song at one time. Back then, I’m not sure I could have told you who had the original hit with it. Gibson’s version was so catchy and easy to sing along to.

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    1. I just found out who first released it by doing that year post I do…I didn’t add it so I did another post on it. I had no clue it was him. I’ve heard it though all of my life.

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  5. I love Papa Neil but I think his version is too slow. I like The KY Headhunters version. The version I’m most familiar with and like the best is Don Gibson’s. It has a close Hank Williams feel to it. Good stuff and I like the guitar bits in the Gibson’s original. Cool that Carl Perkins produced.

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    1. I totally agree….his was too slow. He brought the music down to the lyrics…. liked the opposite effect…like the 10,000 Maniacs song “Like The Weather”… sad lyrics against a snappy rhythm.
      I like Gibson’s as well.

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    1. Yea and that version was early on…The Kentucky Headhunters didn’t come until the 80s. Thats the version that I heard most…but not first.

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    2. Hey Graham. I’m writing a post for a group of bloggers…” songs that you think should have been hits” under different circumstances.” Sorry to bug you but I’m curious about what you think.
      I picked a Replacements song…but which one do you think under different circumstances could have charted high? Not #1 but at least in the top 40 or top 20?
      The one I picked is Can’t Hardly Wait but there are a few like I Will Dare that might have also.

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  9. I recognized the title and actually had heard Don Gibson’s version before. I think my favorite here is the rendition by The Kentucky Headhunters. The video is hilarious as well. Remarkably, Neil Young’s cover didn’t ring a bell, even though I’ve listened to the entire “After the Gold Rush” album.

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