Are You Lonesome Tonight chords
by Elvis Presley

  • Are You Lonesome Tonight is a traditional pop song written by vaudevillians, Roy Turk and Lou Handman in 1926. Elvis Presley recorded and released a version in 1960.
  • Music: C Major in 3/4 time at ~76 bpm.
  • Chords: C, Cmaj7, D7, Dm, Em7, F, G7, Am, A7
  • Spoken Verse: The second verse is spoken. Simply play the chords from the first verse over the second verse. If you listen to the video, the humming in the background keeps you in sync with the chords.
Chart Legend
Numbered Circles: Fingers used to play chords   O: Optional Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings   R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open   X: Don't play string    B: Bass Note
C Major Cmaj7 D7 Dm Em7 F Major G7 Am A7
C Major Cmaj7 D7 Dm Em7 F Major G7 Am A7

Are You Lonesome Tonight

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key 
  
                         C  D  E    D7     G7     C     G7
Intro: 3/4 ‖ Bass Notes  ↑  ↑  ↑ |      |      |     |      ‖  
Timing:         1  &  2  &  3  &

           C            Cmaj7           Am 
1. Are you lone-some to-night?   Do you miss me to-night?
           C         A7         Dm 
   Are you sor-ry we drif-ted a-part? 
             G7  
   Does your mem-o-ry stray    To a bright-er sum-mer day
                                          C
   When I kissed you and called you sweet-heart? 

          C7                              F
** Do the chairs in your par-lour    Seem emp-ty and bare?
          D7                            G7 
   Do you gaze at your door-step    And pic-ture me there? 
                                
           C                  Em7              D7 
** Is your heart fil-led with pain?    Shall I come back a-gain?
           G7                         C         G7
   Tell me dear, are you lone-some to-night? |      | 

Spoken: (Play Verse 1 over the lyrics)
   I wonder if you're lonesome tonight
   You know someone said that the world's a stage
   And each must play a part.
   Fate had me playing in love you as my sweet heart.
   Act one was when we met, I loved you at first glance
   You read your line so cleverly and never missed a cue
   Then came act two, you seemed to change, you acted strange
   And why I'll never know.

   Honey, you lied when you said you loved me
   And I had no cause to doubt you.
   But I'd rather go on hearing your lies
   Than to go on living without you.

   Now the stage is bare and I'm standing there
   With emptiness all around
   And if you won't come back to me
   Then they can bring the curtain down.

           C                  Em7              D7 
** Is your heart fil-led with pain?    Shall I come back a-gain?
           G7                         C
   Tell me dear, are you lone-some to-night?

Song Facts

  • Written by vaudevillians, Roy Turk and Lou Handman in 1926.
  • Recorded many times by several artists, but didn't become a major hit until it was recorded by Elvis Presley in 1960.
  • Presley's version of the song was a huge success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming one of his signature songs.
  • The song was also successful in other countries, charting at number one in the United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Canada, South Africa, and Spain.
  • Covered by many other artists, including Frank Sinatra, The Lettermen, Pat Boone, Doris Day, Donny Osmond, Merls Haggard, John Schneider, and Brian Ferry.
  • Has been translated into many different languages, including Spanish (¿Estás sola esta noche?), French (Es-tu seule ce soir?), and German (Bist du einsam heut' Nacht?).
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