[INTRO — 82 BPM • VINTAGE HONKY-TONK] [Steady boom-chick acoustic • upright bass • crying non-pedal steel] [Short instrumental steel guitar pickup] [VERSE 1 — SOLO MALE • HIGH LONESOME TENOR] [Thin nasal Alabama twang • intimate • conversational] There’s a coffee cup upon the shelf, Where you left it yesterday. And your picture’s hanging crooked, Since I watched you walk away. That old clock keeps on a-ticking, Like it don’t know nothing’s wrong. But the house gets mighty quiet, When a man’s been left alone. [STEEL GUITAR — SHORT WEEPING ANSWER] [CHORUS — ACHING • HIGH LONESOME] [Gentle melodic lift • expressive sliding notes] There’s a train whistle crying yonder, There’s a church bell ringing down. But the saddest sound I’ve ever heard, Is the lonesomest sound in town. It’s a man who calls his sweetheart, When he knows she ain’t around. Just my voice a-calling your name, The lonesomest sound in town. [DELICATE BLUE-YODEL — “Yodel-ay-ee-oo”] [VERSE 2 — RESTRAINED COUNTRY STORYTELLING] [Steady two-step sway • fiddle answers] I went walking past the depot, Where your train pulled out that day. Heard the whistle in the distance, Like it had something to say. I bought a ticket for tomorrow, Thought I’d leave these blues behind. But I tore it up that evening, ’Cause you were still on my mind. [STEEL GUITAR — MOURNFUL TURNAROUND] [CHORUS — DEEPER EMOTION] [High lonesome tenor • natural vocal cracks] There’s a train whistle crying yonder, There’s a church bell ringing down. But the saddest sound I’ve ever heard, Is the lonesomest sound in town. It’s a man who calls his sweetheart, When he knows she ain’t around. Just my voice a-calling your name, The lonesomest sound in town. [SHORT BLUE-YODEL — “Yodel-ay-ee-oo”] [BRIDGE — INTIMATE • NEARLY SPOKEN] [Acoustic guitar only • exposed vocal] I ain’t blaming you for leaving, Lord knows I gave you cause. But I’d trade a thousand tomorrows, For the yesterday I lost. [STEEL GUITAR — SINGLE FALLING PHRASE] [FINAL CHORUS — RAW • HEARTBROKEN] [Restrained fiddle • crying steel answers] There’s a train whistle crying yonder, There’s a church bell ringing down. But the saddest sound I’ve ever heard, Is the lonesomest sound in town. It’s a man who calls his sweetheart, When he knows she ain’t around. Just my voice a-calling your name, The lonesomest sound in town. [FINAL DELICATE BLUE-YODEL — “Yodel-ay-ee-oo”] [OUTRO — SOFT • ALMOST SPOKEN] [Acoustic guitar • lone steel guitar] And every night when the lights go out, I call your name once more. But the only thing that answers… Is the clock beside the door. [FINAL — CRYING NON-PEDAL STEEL • VINTAGE MONO FADE]
