I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

In late 1949, Hank Williams released 'My Bucket's Got A Hole In It,' which was an early 1900's song by Clarence Williams (no relation to Hank) and it's b-side was 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry,' which Elvis famously described as "The saddest song I ever heard."

Hank Williams claims to be the writer, but it has been argued that a 19 year old Paul Gilley wrote the song and sold Williams the rights and ownership. Gilley, who was a 6 foot 9 inch Kentucky boy, wrote classics such as 'Cold, Cold Heart' and 'Crazy Arms.' (The latter was sung by Jerry Lee Lewis at the Million Dollar Quartet session.)

He worked with several of Elvis' heroes - the likes of the Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe and Jim Reeves, but ended up drowning in a pond in mid-1957. Herbert, as his real first name was, had a very similar relationship with his Mum, as Elvis had with Gladys.

Whoever is the real writer of I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry' can be proud of it's numerous cover versions that include Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Al Green and of course Elvis, who, rather interestingly, only sung the song live twice after the 'Aloha from Hawaii' TV special.