Look Up Look Down That Lonesome Road
A very lonesome road in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. Photo by Carl Olson, Jr.
I think everyone understands the loneliness of walking through something difficult. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song that epitomizes this feeling like this old song from the 1920’s:
Look up look down that lonesome road
Hang down your head and cry my love
Hang down your head and cry
The darkest night I ever saw
Was the day I left my home my love
The day I left my home
Look up and down that lonesome road
Where all our friends have gone my love
Where all our friends have gone
The best of friends must surely part
So why not you and I my love
So why not you and I
Look up look down that lonesome road
Hang down your head and cry my love
Hang down your head and cry
Here are three of my favorite versions of the song: The first is by North Carolina-based musician Murphy Campbell. Second, is the performance by the legendary Doc Watson. And, third, is this soulful performance by Gene Austin. Austin’s recording from 1927 was titled The Lonesome Road. The song was highly adaptable – hence you can find many different versions of both the lyrics and the title.
