Oh Lonesome Me

"Oh Lonesome Me"
"Oh Lonesome Me"
Single by The Kentucky Headhunters
from the album Pickin' on Nashville
B-side	"My Daddy Was a Milkman"
Released	May 1990
Genre	Country rock, rockabilly, rock and roll, southern rock
Length	3:12
Label	Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Don Gibson
Producer(s)	The Kentucky Headhunters
The Kentucky Headhunters singles chronology

"Oh Lonesome Me"
"Oh Lonesome Me"
Single by Don Gibson
from the album Oh Lonesome Me
B-side	"I Can't Stop Loving You"
Written	June 7, 1957
Published	February 17, 1958 Acuff-Rose Publications, Inc.
Released	December 1957
Recorded	December 3, 1957
Studio	RCA Victor (Nashville, Tennessee)
Genre	Country
Length	2:26
Label	RCA Victor
Songwriter(s)	Don Gibson
Producer(s)	Chet Atkins
Don Gibson singles chronology

Last updated September 20, 2025

"Oh Lonesome Me" is a popular song written and recorded in December 1957 by Don Gibson with Chet Atkins ^[5] producing it for RCA Victor in Nashville. Released in 1958, the song topped the country chart for eight non-consecutive weeks. On what became the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at No. 7. It was Gibson's only Top 10 hit on the pop chart.^[6] Its B-side was "I Can't Stop Loving You", which peaked at No. 7 on the C&W Jockey charts and became a standard song about unrequited love.^[7] The vocal backings on both songs were provided by the Jordanaires.

The Kentucky Headhunters version

The song was covered by The Kentucky Headhunters in 1990. Their version went to number 8, which was the band's highest-peaking single.^[8]

Chart performance

Chart (1990)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM )^[9]	19
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard )^[10]	8

Year-end charts

Chart (1990)	Position
US Country Songs ( Billboard )^[11]	73

Cover versions

1959: Sacha Distel recorded a French version "Oh ! Quelle Nuit (Lonesome Me)".^[12]
1960: Bob Luman's rendition reached No. 105 on the U.S. Billboard Pop chart
1961: Johnny Cash (went to No. 13)^[13]
1962: Ann-Margret on her album On the Way Up
1962: Craig Douglas released a cover in the UK on Decca Records under the production of Bunny Lewis.^[14] It entered the UK singles chart on October 20, 1962, and stayed there for twelve weeks; its best position was at No. 11^[15]
1962: Ray Charles for his album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume Two
1963: The Everly Brothers on their album "The Everly Brothers Sing Great Country Hits
1966: Bobbi Martin's version reached No. 134 on the U.S. Billboard Pop chart and No. 64 Country
1970: Neil Young (slower version, on After the Gold Rush )
1970: Stonewall Jackson (went to No. 63)^[16]

References

↑ "Don Gibson, 75, Songwriter Known for Country Standards". The New York Times. Associated Press. 2003-11-19. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2021-09-09. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
↑ Staff 11/18/2003, CMT com. "Acclaimed Songwriter Don Gibson Dies". CMT News. Archived from the original on 2021-09-09. Retrieved 2021-09-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
↑ "Card .0786". vcc.copyright.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
↑ "78/45 Singles - Don Gibson Discography". patsyclinediscography.com. Archived from the original on 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
↑ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 10 - Tennessee Firebird: American country music before and after Elvis. [Part 2]" (audio). Pop Chronicles . University of North Texas Libraries.
↑ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 157. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
↑ Gillett, Charlie (1996). The Sound of the City: The Rise of Rock and Roll ((2nd Ed.) ed.). New York, N.Y.: Da Capo Press. pp. 108–109. ISBN 978-0-306-80683-4.
↑ Whitburn, p. 223
↑ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 7997." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. August 18, 1990. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
↑ "The Kentucky Headhunters Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
↑ "Best of 1990: Country Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. 1990. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs . 1959. Archived from the original on 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2020-08-15. Retrieved August 15, 2020
↑ Whitburn, p. 84
↑ "Official Charts - Home of the Official UK Top 40 Charts". Officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2002. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
↑ "it's been nice | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
↑ Whitburn, p. 203

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[1] "Don Gibson, 75, Songwriter Known for Country Standards". The New York Times. Associated Press. 2003-11-19. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2021-09-09. Retrieved 2021-09-09.

[2] Staff 11/18/2003, CMT com. "Acclaimed Songwriter Don Gibson Dies". CMT News. Archived from the original on 2021-09-09. Retrieved 2021-09-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[3] "Card .0786". vcc.copyright.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-09.

[4] "78/45 Singles - Don Gibson Discography". patsyclinediscography.com. Archived from the original on 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2021-09-09.

[pc10-5] Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 10 - Tennessee Firebird: American country music before and after Elvis. [Part 2]" (audio). Pop Chronicles . University of North Texas Libraries.

[whitburn-6] Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 157. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.

[gillett-7] Gillett, Charlie (1996). The Sound of the City: The Rise of Rock and Roll ((2nd Ed.) ed.). New York, N.Y.: Da Capo Press. pp. 108–109. ISBN 978-0-306-80683-4.

[8] Whitburn, p. 223

[sc_Canadacountry_-9] "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 7997." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. August 18, 1990. Retrieved August 23, 2013.

[sc_Billboardcountrysongs_The_Kentucky_Headhunters-10] "The Kentucky Headhunters Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.

[11] "Best of 1990: Country Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. 1990. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved August 23, 2013.

[12] "Discogs.com". Discogs . 1959. Archived from the original on 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2020-08-15. Retrieved August 15, 2020

[13] Whitburn, p. 84

[14] "Official Charts - Home of the Official UK Top 40 Charts". Officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2002. Retrieved 27 April 2021.

[15] "it's been nice | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2021.

[16] Whitburn, p. 203

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v t e Don Gibson
Studio albums	Oh Lonesome Me No One Stands Alone That Gibson Boy
Collaboration albums	Dottie and Don
Notable singles	"Sweet Dreams" "Oh Lonesome Me" "I Can't Stop Loving You" "Blue Blue Day" "I'm Movin' On" "Just One Time" "Sea of Heartbreak" "Woman (Sensuous Woman)" "Snap Your Fingers" "The Fool"
Collaboration singles	"Rings of Gold" "Till I Can't Take It Anymore"
Related articles	Roy Orbison Sings Don Gibson

v t e We Five
Beverly Bivens Michael Stewart Jerry Burgan Pete Fullerton Bob Jones Debbie Burgan
Studio albums	You Were on My Mind Make Someone Happy The Return of We Five Catch the Wind Take Each Day as It Comes
Singles	"You Were on My Mind" "Let's Get Together" "My Favorite Things" "Walk On By" "Catch the Wind"
B-Sides	"Cast Your Fate to the Wind" "Somewhere Beyond the Sea" "Somewhere" "The First Time" "Here Comes the Sun" "Oh Lonesome Me"
Cover Songs	"Can't Help Falling in Love" "The Inch Worm" "Our Day Will Come" "Softly As I Leave You" "Soon It's Gonna Rain" "Tonight"

v t e The Kentucky Headhunters
Greg Martin Doug Phelps Fred Young Richard Young Ricky Lee Phelps Anthony Kenney Mark S. Orr
Studio albums	Pickin' on Nashville Electric Barnyard Rave On!! That'll Work (with Johnnie Johnson) Stompin' Grounds Songs from the Grass String Ranch Soul Big Boss Man Dixie Lullabies Meet Me in Bluesland (with Johnnie Johnson) On Safari That's a Fact Jack!
Compilation albums	The Best of The Kentucky Headhunters: Still Pickin' Flying Under the Radar Authorized Bootleg: Live – Agara Ballroom – Cleveland, Ohio
Notable singles	"Dumas Walker" "Oh Lonesome Me" "Rock 'n' Roll Angel" "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" "Let's Work Together" "Blue Moon of Kentucky" "Dixie Fried" "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" "Singin' the Blues" "Big Boss Man" "Chug-a-Lug" "Take These Chains from My Heart"
Related articles	Discography Brother Phelps

v t e Bob Luman
Albums	Lonely Women Make Good Lovers
Singles	"Let's Think About Living" "Oh Lonesome Me" "I Like Your Kind of Love" "Running Scared" "Ain't Got Time to Be Unhappy" "Every Day I Have to Cry Some" "Honky-Tonk Man" "When You Say Love" "Lonely Women Make Good Lovers" "Neither One of Us" "The Pay Phone"
Related acts	Sue Thompson