singing the blues

This whistling country tune was a number one hit for three different artists simultaneously and became the only song to ever knock itself off of the top of the British charts...twice! Melvin Endsley was a prolific country songwriter who suffered from polio since childhood. He wrote 'Singing the Blues' in 1954 and got it played on a local station. It was so well received that he took it to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, where he met Marty Robbins. Robbins recorded the song in August of 1956 and by November 10, it was at the top of the Country and Western chart, where it stayed for thirteen weeks. Fellow Columbia Records recording artist Guy Mitchell was given the song to do a more pop-oriented version. Mitchell's version got more airplay and sold better than Robbins' and went to the top of the sales chart on December 1 and the top of the pop chart on December 8, where it stayed for nine weeks. It also went to number one in the UK on January 4, 1957. Tommy Steele was a British recording artist who was being compared to Elvis Presley. His version of the song pushed Mitchell's version out of the number one spot on January 11, making 'Singing the Blues' a number one hit on three different charts with three different versions. The next week, Mitchell's version took the top spot back. It was knocked off again by 'The Garden of Eden' by Frankie Vaughan and then went back to number one for one more week on February 1. Which version do you like best?



Marty Robbins

Guy Mitchell

Tommy Steele







Well, I never felt more like singin' the blues
'Cause I never thought that I'd ever lose
Your love dear, why'd you do me this way
Well, I never felt more like cryin' all night
'Cause everythin's wrong, and nothin' ain't right
Without you, you got me singin' the blues

The moon and stars no longer shine
The dream is gone I thought was mine
There's nothin' left for me to do
But cry-y-y-y over you (cry over you)
Well, I never felt more like runnin' away
But why should I go 'cause I couldn't stay
Without you, you got me singin' the blues

Well, I never felt more like singin' the blues
'Cause I never thought that I'd ever lose
Your love dear, why'd you do me this way
Well, I never felt more like cryin' all night
'Cause everythin's wrong, and nothin' ain't right
Without you, you got me singin' the blues

Oh, the moon and stars no longer shine
The dream is gone I thought was mine
There's nothin' left for me to do
But cry-y-y-y over you (cry over you)
Well, I never felt more like runnin' away
But why should I go 'cause I couldn't stay
Without you, you got me singin' the blues