Only the Lonely

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Not to be confused with the song by The Motels.

For the Frank Sinatra album, see Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely.

"Only the Lonely" is a 1960 American song written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson. Sung by Orbison, it became his first major hit. As an operatic rock ballad, it was a sound unheard of at the time and is seen as a seminal event in the evolution of Rock and Roll. Released as a 45rpm single by Monument Records in May 1960, "Only The Lonely" went to No. 2 on the United States Billboard pop music charts and to No. 1 in the United Kingdom.

The song also appears on Orbison's 1962 album, Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits, and his 1989 posthumous album A Black & White Night Live from the 1988 HBO television special.

In 1969, singer Sonny James recorded the song and had a Number One hit on the Billboard country music charts.

In 1999, "Only The Lonely" was honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine named it as one of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."

[edit] In popular culture

• Orbison's version of his song has been used in motion pictures including:
  • The Love Letter (1999)
  • Only the Lonely (1991)
• Only the Lonely is the title of a book about Roy Orbison by Alan Clayson, published 1989, St. Martin's Press, New York City.
• Only The Lonely - The Roy Orbison Story - is a stage musical that toured Europe.
• The song is referenced by Bruce Springsteen in his song "Thunder Road" from the hit album Born to Run.