About the song
– Elvis Presley’s untimely death on August 16, 1977 was the end of the era for rock and roll music as the world knew it. Years of alcohol and prescription drug misuse saw the demise of one of history’s greatest performers at the age of just 42. However, two months before his death Elvis Presley took to the stage for his last staggering performance to be captured on camera.
– Despite what we now know to be his extensive health issues and struggles with addiction, The King gave a rendition of ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’ that has gone down in history.
– Elvis introduced the song to the crowd and began what would become the last ever recorded performance of his career. Strumming his guitar, The King’s unmistakable voice rings out with the immortal opening line: “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” as the crowd screams and almost drowns out his vocals.The star looked more bloated than his younger self, and while his body may have been on the brink, but his voice was still as strong as ever.
When it comes to the speaking part of the song, Elvis starts to stumble and forget his words, – laughing with the crowd over his forgetfulness. He looks awkward and is visibly sweating, however as soon as he starts singing again, the words come back naturally and he finishes off the performance with incredible vocal skill. The end of the song brings the end of an era – just 56 days later Elvis Presley would be dead.
Watch Elvis Presley’s last recorded performance and Let’s sing with him
Lyric
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?
I wonder if you’re lonesome tonight
You know someone said that the world’s a stage and each of us 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?