Still More Sentimental and Sad Songs Quiz

Answer: Only the Lonely

Roy Orbison and Joe Melson wrote the lyrics for "Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)" which quickly became the very first major hit song for Mr. Orbison. The sad, sentimental and teary song reached number two on the United States Billboard pop music charts and also number fourteen on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues charts, both in 1960. Again in 1960, the song reached number two on the UK singles chart. "Only the Lonely" received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999 followed by Rolling Stone placing the song at number 232 on "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list in 2004.

(contributed by funnytrivianna)

Answer: Always make me cry

Although her success was in the early 60s, she continued to record into the late 70s. She had success also with a string of duets with Don Gibson.

The lyrics of "Sad Movies" (1961) describe an emotional experience in a movie theater when she sees her boy friend with another girl, her best friend. Upset, she goes home and her mother asks what is troubling her and she replies:

"And mama saw the tears and said what's wrong?
And so to keep from telling her a lie
I just said sa-a-a-d movies make me cry

Oh-oh-oh sa-a-a-d movies always make me cry
Oh-oh-oh sa-a-a-d movies always make me cry"

(Special thanks to RP7)

Answer: He was in the arms of his best friend's wife

The song peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot C&W Singles chart. It has subsequently been covered by many artists, including Johnny Cash, the Bruces (Springsteen and Hornsby), Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, David Allan Coe, Sammy Smith and others.

The song was even part of a legal ruling. In 1979 the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals referred to the song when talking about ignorant guilty pleas. An ignorant plea is one in which the defendant is not aware of what might result from a plea of guilty.

"The scaffold was high and eternity neared
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
But sometimes at night when the cold wind moans
In a long black veil she cries over my bones"

(deputygary likes this song but would never be found doing anything mentioned in the question's answers)

Answer: Patsy Cline

Patsy Cline also drove "Crazy" to number nine on the "Billboard Hot 100" list that same year. The talented young star, who perished in a plane crash when she was just 30 years old, became the initial female soloist ever inducted into The Country Music Hall of Fame (1973). In 1995 Patsy Cline was also honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
"Crazy" was named number 85 on "Rolling Stone Magazine's" 2004 list of The Greatest Hits of All Time.

Here's some more of Patsy Cline's signature song:

"Worry
Why do I let myself worry?
Wonderin'
What in the world did I do?

Crazy for thinkin'
That my love could hold you
I'm crazy for tryin' and crazy for cryin'
And I'm crazy for lovin' you"

(question submitted by paulmallon)

Answer: Everybody Hurts

Although R.E.M. is known for "blurring" some of their song lyrics, "Everybody Hurts" was sung clearly to make sure the message of not giving up hope came across. The target audience for this recording were teenagers.

The song reached number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Everybody hurts
Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts
Don't throw your hand, oh no

Don't throw your hand
If you feel like you're alone
No, no, no, you are not alone

If you're on your own in this life
The days and nights are long
When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on"

(Submitted by AnnCraig)

Answer: Patti Page

Patti Page (nee Clara Ann Fowler) was one of the most popular and prolific female singers over her more than half-century long career. Known as "The Singing Rage, Ms. Patti Page", she sold over 100 million recordings. During the height of her popularity (1950-1965), she had 15 songs sell over a million copies each. In addition to "The Tennessee Waltz", Patti Page had three other number one hits on "Billboard": "All My Love" (1950), "I Went To Your Wedding" (1952), and, "How Much Is That Doggie In The Window", a novelty tune she released in 1953. A few other Top Five hits Ms. Page recorded were "Mockingbird Hill" (number two in 1950), "Allegheny Moon" (number two in 1956), and "Old Cape Cod" which reached the third spot in 1956.
Patti Page who passed away in 2013, was the recipient of a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement.

"The Tennessee Waltz, written in 1946 was the combined effort of Redd Stewart (lyrics), and Pee Wee King (music). Within four years it would become a number one hit for an astounding 13 straight weeks on the "Billboard Best Seller in Stores" list. Literally dozens of artists have recorded this beautiful song, including Connie Francis , Anne Murray, and a guy named Elvis something.

Interesting note: In 1965 "The Tennessee Waltz" was named the official state song for Tennessee.

Get out a tissue and follow along with more of "The Tennessee Waltz":

"I remember the night,
And the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost
Yes, I lost my little darlin'
The night they were playing
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz"

(question submitted by paulmallon)

Answer: I'll Be Seeing You

"I'll be Seeing You" has been sung by Bing Crosby, Judy Collins and Queen Latifah just to name a few. "I'll Be Seeing You" has been used in many films from 1944's "I'll Be Seeing You", "Shining Through"(1992), and "The Aviator"(2004). It has been used at the Academy Awards in its "In Memoriam" tribute to those who have passed away.

The song can be interpreted as either lost love or the death of a loved one:

" I'll be seeing you in ev'ry lovely summer's day
In everything that's light and gay
I'll always think of you that way
I'll find you in the morning sun and when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon but I'll be seeing you."


(Submitted by AnnCraig)

Answer: Three Wooden Crosses

"Three Wooden Crosses" was recorded by Randy Travis in 2002. The collaboration of writing this sad yet inspirational song was done by Doug Johnson and Kim Williams. Randy Travis' single was based on roadside crosses erected in specific locations in memory of those killed in traffic accidents. The lyrics speak of a farmer, a teacher, a preacher and a hooker. The farmer, teacher and preacher were killed but before the preacher died he placed his blood soaked bible into the hands of the hooker. She in turn read that bible to her son who grew up to become a preacher himself.

"Three Wooden Crosses" reached number one on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks in May, 2003. Until then, Travis had not achieved a number one on the chart since 1994. As a cross over to the Billboard Hot 100, the song reached number 31.

"A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher,
Ridin' on a midnight bus bound for Mexico.
One's headed for vacation, one for higher education,
An' two of them were searchin' for lost souls.
That driver never ever saw the stop sign.
An' eighteen wheelers can't stop on a dime.

There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway,
Why there's not four of them, Heaven only knows.
I guess it's not what you take when you leave this world behind you,
It's what you leave behind you when you go."

(contributed by funnytrivianna)

Answer: Alison Krauss

Alison Krauss went on to pair up with Robert Plant on an album that won three 2009 Grammys.

"Whiskey Lullaby" relates how being rejected caused a man to turn to alcoholism, that eventually killed him. Then the woman who rejected him feels responsibility for his death and she, too, drinks herself to death in guilt.

"We found her with her face down in the pillow
Clinging to his picture for dear life
We laid her next to him beneath the willow
While the angels sang a whiskey lullaby"

(Special thanks to agony)

Answer: Danny

Wheathery, ironically, never set foot in Ireland. But his "Danny Boy" has been recorded many times by diverse artists such as Gracie Fields, Conway Twitty, Glenn Miller, and Patti LaBelle. The song is set to the tune of "Londonderry Air". It was used as the theme song for "The Danny Thomas Show" and has been played as the Irish team enters in the Olympic games parade.

The final verse is:

"And I shall feel, oh soft you tread above me
And then my grave will richer, sweeter be
For you will bend and tell me that you love me
And I shall rest in peace until you come to me."

(Submitted by Rehaberpro)