<P> "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer - songwriter Hank Williams in 1949 . Williams wrote the song originally intending that the words be spoken, rather than sung, as he had done on several of his Luke the Drifter recordings . The song about loneliness was largely inspired by his troubled relationship with wife Audrey Sheppard . With evocative lyrics, such as the opening lines "Hear that lonesome whip - poor - will / He sounds too blue to fly," the song has been covered by a wide range of musicians . During his Aloha from Hawaii TV - special, Elvis Presley introduced it by saying, "I'd like to sing a song that's...probably the saddest song I've ever heard ." </P> <P> According to Colin Escott's 2004 book Hank Williams: A Biography, Williams was inspired to write the song when he found it on a schedule of upcoming MGM releases . The song was recorded on August 30, 1949 at Herzog Studio in Cincinnati, Ohio . Williams is backed by members of the Pleasant Valley Boys - Zeke Turner (lead guitar), Jerry Byrd (steel guitar), and Louis Innis (rhythm guitar) - as well as Tommy Jackson (fiddle) and Ernie Newton (bass). As Escott observes, the plaintive despair in Williams' voice on the recording is echoed by the backing of the musicians: </P> <Dl> <Dd> "Zeke Turner underpinned' I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry' with recurring figures on the bass strings of the electric guitar . A few weeks earlier, Turner had led the backing on the Delmore Brothers' recording of' Blues Stay Away From Me' using very similar licks...Jerry Byrd played a solo of unusual simplicity, paraphrasing the melody to haunting effect, subtly adjusting tone and volume . Hank sang with unshakable conviction ." </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> "Zeke Turner underpinned' I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry' with recurring figures on the bass strings of the electric guitar . A few weeks earlier, Turner had led the backing on the Delmore Brothers' recording of' Blues Stay Away From Me' using very similar licks...Jerry Byrd played a solo of unusual simplicity, paraphrasing the melody to haunting effect, subtly adjusting tone and volume . Hank sang with unshakable conviction ." </Dd>

Who sang i'm so lonely i could cry