There is a concept—or at least a theme—behind Lonelyville: all the songs are in one way or another about loneliness, and most contain the word "lonely" or some variation thereof. "Have You Ever Been Lonely," "Lonely Street," "Oh Lonesome Me," and "Seven Lonely Days" are obvious choices once the idea presents itself, but Dudley himself contributes "Lonely Corner," and Tom T. Hall's name appears on four others (the only ones, incidentally, that don't contain the magic word, suggesting that they weren't made to order for the album). The songs are slow and somber—quite a departure from the good-time trucking songs for which Dudley is remembered. The title track was a respectable hit, showing that Dudley could attempt other kinds of material and performing styles (ballad singing in particular) without completely losing his audience.
Have you ever been really lonely? Everyone has such moments... a truck driver as he travels cross-country in the middle of the night.. the waitress at a truck stop during those occasional breaks between customers... or the service station attendant who sits and waits. There is, too, the wife whose husband is far away... perhaps in the armed services. Even an all-night country music disc jockey - like myself - has such times of isolation and emptiness. For all of these night people, music becomes a kind of companion, a consolation. And all of these people love country music. That's why everyone will appreciate this collection of "lonely" songs by Dave Dudley. Dave Dudley is an old friend and former deejay. He is also one of the finest country music singers in the business. He hit with his Mercury album Six Days On The Road and went on to record many up-tempo numbers. Frankly, I've always thought Dave was a great ballad singer as well. This album, Lonelyville, proves the point. All the tunes are slow numbers except for Oh Lonesome Me and Dave's own composition, Lonely Corner. The emphasis is strictly on his ballad style. Loneliness is a universal feeling. So sit back, sip your cup of coffee, and join Dave Dudley in Lonelyville.
- Mike Hoyer - Radio Station WHO, Des Moines, Iowa
DAVE DUDLEY
LONELYVILLE
Mercury SR-61074June/1966
Produced by Jerry Kennedy
Jerry Kennedy - guitar/dobroRay Edenton - rh.guitar
Harold Bradley - bass guitar
Pete Drake - steel
Bob Moore - bass
Buddy Harman - drums
Hargus Pig Robbins - piano
Recorded:
Sept/1965, Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville (11)
Jan/1966, Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville
1.
LONELYVILLE
(Dave Burgess) « © '66 Ominor Music, BMI »If you wonder why I always look so bad
And even when I smile I still look sad
Well it's just because I've lost the only love I've ever had
Now I live in a tumble down shack on shabby little street on the hill
In Lonelyville
If you think I live in pitty well it's true
But there's nothing else that's left for me to do
She packed my clothes showed me the door and then she said we're through
Now I live in a tumble down shack on shabby little street on the hill
In Lonelyville
Well Lonelyville is not a happy place
But now I'm forced to live here in disgrace
I heard her slammed the door behind me tight
And I realized I didn't treat her right
So I'll have to face the sadness and the sorrow every night
In my tumble down shack on shabby little street on the hill
In Lonelyville
In my tumble down shack on shabby little street on the hill
In Lonelyville
**********
2.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN LONELY
(George Brown - Peter DeRose - Billy Hill) « © '33 Shapiro-Bernstein Co, ASCAP »Have you ever been lonely have you ever been blue
Have you ever loved someone just as I love you
Can't you see that I'm sorry for each mistake I've made
Can't you see that I've changed dear can't you see that I've paid
Be a little forgiving take me back in your heart
How can I go on living now that we're apart
If you knew what I've been through then you'd know why I ask you
Have you ever been lonely have you ever been blue
[ guitar ] If you knew what I've been through then you'd know why I ask you
Have you ever been lonely have you ever been blue
**********
3.
OH LONESOME ME
(Don Gibson) « © '58 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »Well everybody's going out and having fun
I'm just a fool for staying home and having none
I can't get over how she set set me free oh lonesome me
A bad mistake I'm making by just hanging round
I know that I should have some fun and paint the town
A lovesick fool that's blind and just can't see oh lonesome me
I'll bet she's not like me she's out and fancy free
Flirtin' with the boys with all her charms
But I still love her so and brother don't you know
I'd welcome her right back here in my arms
Well there must be some way I can lose these lonesome blues
Forget about the past and find somebody new
I've thought of everything from A to Z oh lonesome me
[ guitar ] Well I'll bet she's not like me...
Oh lonesome me oh lonesome me
**********
4.
LONELY STREET
(Carl Belew - W.S. Stevenson - Kenny Sowder) « © '56 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »I'm looking for that Lonely Street
I've got a sad sad tale to tell
I need a place to go and weep
Where's this place called Lonely Street
A place where there's just loneliness
Where dim lights bring forgetfulness
Where broken dreams and mem'ries meet
Where's this place called Lonely Street
Perhaps upon that Lonely Street there's someone such as I
Who came to bury broken dreams and watch an old love die
If I could find that Lonely Street
Where dim lights bring forgetfulness
Where broken dreams and mem'ries meet
Where's this place called Lonely Street
Perhaps upon that Lonely Street...
Where's this place called Lonely Street
**********
5.
SEVEN LONELY DAYS
(Earl Shuman - Alden Shuman - Marhall Brown) « © '53 Music Sales, ASCAP »Well seven lonely days make one lonely week
And seven lonely nights make one lonely me
Ever since the time you told me we were through
Well seven lonely days I cried and cried for you
Oh my darling I'm crying hoo hoo hoo hoo
Ain't no use in denying I cried for you
It was your favorite past time just a making me blue
Well last week was the last time I cried for you
Seven pillows blue I filled with my tears
Seven letters too I filled with all my fears
I guess it never paced to make your lover blue
Seven lonely days I've cried and cried for you
Oh my darling I'm crying...
Seven lonely days make one lonely week
And seven lonely nights make one lonely me
**********
6.
AT THE JUNCTION
(Tom T. Hall - Dave Dudley) « © '66 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »It's just a small cafe I'm here most every day
At the junction of heartbreak road
I guess it's very clear it's you that put me here
At the junction of heartbreak road
At the junction where losers and weepers meet
And if you'd never been here before
They say if you stay at the junction long enough
Honey everybody walks in through that door
I'll have a drink or two then I'll have one for you
And another for anyone I know
There are roads out of here but all roads lead to tears
I'm at the junction with no place to go
I'm at the junction with no place to go
I'm at the junction with no place to go
**********
7.
TIME AND PLACE
(Tom T. Hall) « © '66 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »You took her love away from me but that was your mistake
She's gonna break your heart in two and she'll pick the time and place
You know the end is comin' in how long will you have to wait
You'll suddenly fall surprised by at all and she'll pick the time and place
Remember she was once my love but she grew tired of me
She's so wild and reckless her mind changes with the breeze
Remember you were told about the way she operates
You suddenly find you're out of your mind and she'll pick the time and place
It's hard to know the fatal glow could come on anytime
When someone that you love so has another love in mind
The sweet success you took from me will leave a bitter taste
For out of the blue you're suddenly through and she'll pick the time and place
For out of the blue you're suddenly through and she'll pick the time and place
**********
8.
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF YOUR HEART
(Tom T. Hall - Bobby Dyson) « © '66 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »Like an Indian that's headed for his horse
Like a muddy river you can't change my course
Got my heart and mind made up and I am ready now to start
On my journey to the center of your heart
Well you beat everything I've ever seen
You're a treasure chest with all the best parts of my dreams
I have never wanted anything that tore me all apart
Like my journey to the center of your heart
[ piano ] Like a bullet from a mighty mighty gun
Beat me on the head but that won't stop me none
If the world turns out the lights I'll keep on coming in the dark
On my journey to the center of your heart
Well you beat everything...
Like my journey to the center of your heart
**********
9.
LONELY CORNER
(Dave Dudley) « © '66 Southern Arts Music, BMI »I'm waiting on the corner where I always wait
There'll must be something wrong because tonight you're late
Maybe you no longer want to meet me secretly
Well it's a mighty lonely corner with no one here but me
I guess I should go home cause that's where I belong
But I don't feel that lovin' you is really wrong
So if you're out tonight you know exactly where I'll be
Just look around this lonely corner and you'll find lonely me
[ guitar ] We've always met together under cover of the night
Even though we knew that it wasn't right
Have you made up your mind you should stop seeing me
Well it's a mighty lonely corner with no one here but me
I guess I should go home...
Just look around this lonely corner and you'll find lonely me
**********
10.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE LONESOME
(Bill Anderson) « © '64 Johnny Bienstock Music, BMI »The streets are dark and empty and you walk them all alone
You think about your love affair and wonder what went wrong
You go to bed each night and pray you'll never see the dawn
Afraid of each tomorrow with its heartless cold unknown
And that's what it's like to be lonesome
With a heart of broken love has taught to cry
And that's what it's like to be lonesome
I know cause I'm a mighty lonesome guy
You search to find a tavern where the music's playing loud
You try to lose your heartache in the laughter of the crowd
But the happy couples make you think of things that might have been
Then you'll have to fight the teardrops till you're by yourself again
And that's what it's like to be lonesome...
**********
11.
COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE
(Tom T. Hall) « © '66 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »Some men drink alcohol some men drink juices from the vine
But as for me I'm very simple give me coffee every time
Make it warm and make it sweet just the way my life has been
Give me coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee
And let me tell you you have found yourself a friend
Cincinnati early in the morning I'm waitin' on an old Greyhound
Oh Macon Georgia right around noon time I bring that coffee for a round
Make it hot make it now put a little cream and sugar in
Give me coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee
And you have absolutely found yourself a friend
A cup of china a silver spoon cream at ever golden can
See that pot ah it's a pretty little and it's just like a music from a band
These old bones are tired and weary the man you can put and love again
Give me coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee
I guarantee that you have found yourself a friend
Yes sir you have found yourself a friend
I guarantee that you have found yourself a friend
**********
12.
JUST CALL ME LONESOME
(Rex Griffin) « © '53 Anne Rachel Music, ASCAP »Why must I love the heartless one
Who'll never know the harm she's done
Though love is blind I should have known
Just call me lonesome from now on
I climb the stairs up to my room
But there's no one to meet me in the gloom
The silence tells me she is gone
Just call me lonesome from now on
These walls will hide me when I cry
And I hope that heaven lets me die
What good is life when hope is gone
Just call me lonesome from now on
Just call me lonesome from now on
**********
