Lonely Ol' Night
John Mellencamp · Words & Music [2004]
I don't know I'm just so scared and lonely all at the same time
Nobody told us it was gonna work out this way no, no, no, no, no
I guess they knew we'd work it out in our own way
Chorus:
It's a lonely ol' night
Can I put my arms around you
It's a lonely ol' night
Custom made for two lonely people like me and you
Radio playing softly some singer's sad sad song
He's singing about standing in the shadows of love
I guess he feels awfully alone
She says I know exactly what he means yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
And it's a sad, sad feeling when you're living on those in-betweens
But it's okay
Chorus:
It's a lonely ol' night
Can I put my arms around you
It's a lonely ol' night
Custom made for two lonely people like me and you
She calls me baby she calls everybody baby
It's a lonely ol' night but ain't they all
Chorus:
It's a lonely ol' night
Can I put my arms around you
It's a lonely ol' night
Custom made for two lonely people like me and you
Lonely Ol' Night
John Mellencamp's "Lonely Ol' Night" appears on his 2004 album "Words & Music," a collection that revisits his songwriting roots. The track exemplifies the singer-songwriter's enduring ability to blend folk-rock sensibilities with narrative storytelling, characteristic of his work spanning from the mid-1970s through the 2000s. Released during a period where Mellencamp frequently returned to his acoustic foundations, the recording captures a reflective mood typical of his catalog, focusing on themes of isolation and personal struggle. As part of a broader body of work that includes hits like "Small Town" and "Jackie," this song reinforces his status as a chronicler of American life, utilizing straightforward instrumentation to deliver emotional resonance without relying on complex production techniques.