Eddy Arnold drifted steadily toward the pop mainstream throughout the late '50s and '60s until, with The Last Word in Lonesome, he arrived at his destination. "Country-pop" and "Nashville sound" do not describe the music here — it is pure MOR pop vocal material of the sort in which John Gary and Al Martino dealt. The cover photo of Arnold in an elegant black velvet jacket and white silk scarf tells the story before the needle even touches the vinyl. The songwriters, from Bob Montgomery and Dottie West to Cindy Walker and Hank Cochran, hail from the field of country music, but Arnold's smooth crooning and Bill Walker's easy listening string arrangements are bound for the supper club. "Why" is particularly lovely, and "Misty Blue" became a big hit for Arnold in 1967 (and again for Billy Jo Spears in 1976). Arnold's recording of the title track, one of Roger Miller's most affecting compositions, almost reached number one and crossed over to the pop Top 40. If country music was moving uptown in the '60s, The Last Word in Lonesome saw it comfortably ensconced in a Manhattan penthouse, sipping champagne and bragging about its golf scores.
EDDY ARNOLD
THE LAST WORD IN LONESOME
RCA Victor LSP-3622June/1966
Produced by Chet Atkins
Recorded:Oct 27/1965, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville (7)
Apr 18/1966, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville (6,8,10,11)
Apr 19/1966, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville (5,9)
Apr 20/1966, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville (1,4,12)
May 14/1966, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville (2,3)
1.
MISTY BLUE
(Bob Montgomery)« © '65 Dimensionsl Songs Of The Knoll, BMI / Talmont Music, BMI »
Oh it's been such a long long time looks like I get you off my mind
Oh but I can't just the thought of you turns my world a misty blue
Just the mention of your name turns the flicker to a flame
I think of things we used to do then my whole world turns misty blue
I should forget you heaven knows I've tried
But when I said I'm glad we're through my heart knows I've lied
Oh it's been such a long long time looks like I get you off my mind
Oh but I can't just the thought of you turns my world a misty blue
Oh but I can't just the thought of you turns my world a misty blue
**********
2.
HERE COMES MY BABY BACK AGAIN
(Dottie West - Bill West)« © '64 Tree Publishing, BMI »
Here comes more tears to cry here comes more heartaches by
Here comes my baby back again
Here comes more misery here come old memories
Here comes my baby back again
My arms are open wide to let more hurt inside
Here comes my baby back again
She's sorry once again once more I'll understand
Here comes my baby back again
Here comes my baby back again
**********
3.
WHY
(Cindy Walker)« © '66 Unichappell Music, BMI »
Why did you tell me that you love me
When you really didn't love me oh darling why
And why did you let me dream on
Now the pretty dream's gone and all I can do is cry
And I will never understand it
Was that the way you planned it was it all just a lie
Goodbye you broke the heart I gave you
But someday your heart will break too
And you'll wonder why
[ guitar ] Oh darling why goodbye
You broke the heart I gave you
But someday your heart will break too
And you'll wonder why
**********
4.
LONG LONG FRIENDSHIP
(Cindy Walker)« © '66 Unichappell Music, BMI »
I want to have a long long friendship with you
After years and years it's still growing strong friendsip with you
I want have a long long walks and some real close heart to heart talks
In the spring when stars are glowing by the fire when snow is snowing
I want to spend some long long hours with you
Twenty four a day for all of my days and nights too
And knowing you're a friend who would never let my dreams fall through
I'm gonna have a long long friendship uhm baby with you
I want to spend some long long hours with you
Just enjoying all the joy in just being with you
And knowing you're a friend who would never let my dreams fall through
I'm gonna start that long long friendship uhm baby with you
**********
5.
THAT'S A LIE
(Charlie Williams - Scott Turner)« © '66 Central Songs, BMI »
Well I said if you're happy that I'm glad
At times for all the fun that we've had
I said if it's over I hope that you walk through fields of clover
But that's a lie I hope you're sad
Well I said I wish all the best to you
And good luck to your someone new
I said if it's true love then go ahead and take all my best with you love
But that's a lie I hope you're blue
If I'm not careful you'll catch me in a lie
And all I have to do is look at you and you'll see a grown man cry
I said I would never let you know how much it hurts to let you go
I said I won't miss you and I'll forget how it was to kiss you
But that's a lie look at me cry but that's a lie I need you so
**********
6.
THING CALLED SADNESS
(Harlan Howard)« © '65 Tree Publishing, BMI »
It's been here since you've been gone it's been hanging round too long
A thing called sadness not much of a friend when you walked out it walked in
It's in every chair where I sit down it follows me all over town
A thing called sadness not much of a friend when you walked out it walked in
What in the world am I going to do this old friend can't take the place of you
It only brings back mem'ries of you and all the things that we used to do
It's in every chair where I sit down it follows me all over town
A thing called sadness not much of a friend when you walked out sadness walked in
**********
7.
LAST WORD IN LONESOME IS ME
(Roger Miller)« © '65 Tree Publishing, BMI »
The last word in lonesome is me
The last word in lonesome is me
My heart is as lonely as a heart can be lonely
The last word in lonesome is me
Too bad what's happened to our good love
Too bad what's happened to our good love
Sometimes our best isn't quite good enough
And the last word in lonesome is me
The last word in lonesome is me...
My heart is as lonely...
**********
8.
DON'T TOUCH ME
(Hank Cochran)« © '66 Tree Publishing, BMI »
(Don't you touch me if you don't love me)
Your hand is like a torch each time you touch me
That look in your eyes pulls me apart
Don't open the door to heaven if I can't come in
Don't touch me if you don't love me sweetheart
Your kiss is like a drink when I'm thirsty
And I'm thirsty for you with all my heart
Don't love me then act as though we've never kissed
Don't touch me if you don't love me sweetheart
Don't give me something that you might take away
To have you then lose you wouldn't be smart on my part
Don't open the door to heaven if I can't come in
Don't touch me if you don't love me sweetheart
**********
9.
OTHER SIDE OF LONELY
(Cindy Walker - Lee Fykes)« © '66 Unichappell Music, BMI »
(On the other side of lonely)
On the other side of lonely is where I wanna be
On the other side of lonely where once you were with me
I'll hold on to memories that won't set me free
While the other side of lonely is where I wanna be
(On the other side of lonely)
On the other side of lonely is where I wanna be
On the other side of lonely is where you wait for me
I'll hold on to pieces of a love that used to be
While the other side of lonely is where I want to be
I'll hold on to memories that won't set me free
On the other side of lonely is where I wanna be
**********
10.
MY HOMETOWN SWEETHEART
(Arthur Kent - Sylvia Dee)« © '66 Bourne Co, ASCAP »
(He's going home yes he's going back)
I'm going home to the arms of my hometown sweetheart
Cause she means the world to me
I have missed her cherry lips cherry smile missed her kiss all the while
Been as lonesome as can be
No other girl incompare to my hometown sweetheart
Hand to toe she suits me fine
I'm just a hometown boy who'll be full of joy when I'll see
That hometown sweetheart of mine
(He's going home to the arms of his hometown sweetheart)
Cause she means the world to me
(He misses her honey lips honey smile misses her kisses all the while)
Been as lonesome as can be
No other girl incompare...
I'm going home I gotta go home I gotta see her
**********
11.
MILLIONS OF ROSES
(Arthur Kent - Sylvia Dee)« © '66 Edward Proffitt Music, ASCAP »
(Millions of roses) every single day
If I bought a flower for each happy hour
That you and your love have made life sweet
Millions of roses millions of roses would lie at your feet
For each time you hold me each love word you told me
If I work to bring the rose in blue
Millions of roses millions of roses would fill every room
What a way to show you all you mean to me
More than this I owe you for each memory
If I had a treasure then my greatest pleasure
Would be sending you a big bouquet
Millions of roses millions of roses every single day
**********
12.
AFTER THE LAUGHTER COMES THE TEARS
(Ray Griff)« © '66 Helene Blue Musique, ASCAP »
You know that after the laughter comes the tears
That's what happens when your memory appears
I try to act real happy since you said goodbye
But sometimes when I least expect I break right down and cry
Cause always after the laughter comes the tears
And my feelings never seem to be too clear
I never know how long I'll smile but it's usually just for a little while
Cause after the laughter comes the tears
After the laughter comes the tears...
**********
