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Are You Lonesome Tonight

Artist: Al Martino

Album: The Ultimate Ballroom Album 4

Song Length: 2:35

George's Thoughts: Elvis' song has a tempo of only 25bpm, too slow for dancing, though DJs could use their magic tools to speed up the pace without changing the pitch. Al Martino's version isn't much faster at only 26bpm. I'm surprised that this song isn't found on any strict-tempo albums, because the words are so beautiful. Fortunately a version sped up to competition speed is available on "The Ultimate Ballroom Album 4." Elvis' version has some spoken lyrics just before the end that make this too challenging for novice dancers.

Song Lyrics:

Are you lonesome tonight,
Do you miss me tonight?
Are you sorry we drifted apart?
Does your memory stray to a brighter sunny 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 must play a part.
Fate had me playing in love you as my sweet heart.
Act one was when we met, I loved you at first glance
You read your line so cleverly and never missed a cue
Then came act two, you seemed to change and you acted strange
And why I'll never know.
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 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 make them bring the curtain down.

Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?