Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Jimmie Rodgers is “Lonely and Blue” in His Song for a Reason

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Jimmie Rodgers, also known as the father of country music, has always produced great songs. Some of his notable tracks are the Blue Yodel series, “Waiting for a Train” and “I’m Lonely and Blue.”

Unfortunately, the singer died at an early age due to tuberculosis. The legacy he left was quite significant as he was known to be the first country music star.

jimmie rodgers, lonely
via Getty Images/Jim McCrary / Contributor

Jimmie Rodgers’ Legacy

Jimmie Rodgers left a big mark being the first huge country star. His style of singing (yodeling) and his creative mix of folk and ballad into his performances left a great impression on the country scene. During the peak in his career, the singer was diagnosed with tuberculosis. As a performer, he thought that he should be professional and continue his tours as he is just at the right moment of stardom.

Many believed that this cost the chances of the singer to recover and his health declined. When the country music Hall of Fame was established, he was the first to be inducted. He was also inducted into The Songwriters’ Hall of Fame as a testament of his brilliance in writing songs. His life might have been short-lived but his impact on country music is long-lasting.

jimmie rodgers, lonely
via Screen grab from YouTube

Lyrics Breakdown

You promised you’d be just mine, sweetheart
That you and I would never part

A lot of traditional country music has this theme. A man feels bad about himself because he got left behind by someone that he dearly loves. Feeling sad and hopeless is a universal feeling. Almost everyone has experienced it at some point in their life. It is a heart-breaking moment so I guess this is why most of the songs back then (and today) were all about it.

A song will most likely be remembered when everyone can relate to it. Songwriters want their listeners to feel the strong emotions that are being conveyed in a track. So whether it be happy or sad, it is usually done in an over-the-top manner so that it will be remembered by the people, and this track is a perfect example of it.

Listen to this Jimmie Rodgers-track here:

For your daily dose of country music stories, check our official Facebook page.

Latest Stories

In It for A Happy Life with Matt Williams’ Song “Rain Down Sunshine”

In It for A Happy Life with Matt Williams’ Song “Rain Down Sunshine”

In 2019, rising country singer Matt Williams released his song “Rain Down Sunshine” as part of his album Taking Chances. Unlike other country singers, Matt Williams is not the typical ...

B.W. Stevenson Sings an Ode to a Beautiful Woman in “My Maria”

B.W. Stevenson Sings an Ode to a Beautiful Woman in “My Maria”

In 1973, country superstar B.W. Stevenson released his hit single “My Maria” as part of his album of the same title.  Right after its release, the song immediately hit the ...

Let John Prine Sing You a Lullaby with “My Old Kentucky Home, Goodnight”

Let John Prine Sing You a Lullaby with “My Old Kentucky Home, Goodnight”

Released on July 16, 2019, John Prine delivers the song “My Old Kentucky Home, Goodnight” with a calm tone and sincerity that can accompany you on a lovely day. Many ...

Darius Rucker’s “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” Will Leave You Weeping

Darius Rucker’s “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” Will Leave You Weeping

Hootie & the Blowfish lead singer Darius Rucker released his first chart-topping single as a solo act titled “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” on May 27, 2008. This ...

Remembering the Death of Arthur Smith, the Bluegrass Musician Behind “Guitar Boogie” and “Dueling Banjos”

Remembering the Death of Arthur Smith, the Bluegrass Musician Behind “Guitar Boogie” and “Dueling Banjos”

On April 3, 2014, virtuoso bluegrass musician Arthur Smith, well-known as the man behind “Guitar Boogie” and “Feuding Banjos” rechristened as “Dueling Banjos” in the acclaimed film Deliverance, passed away ...

Listen to Keith Whitley, the Voice Behind the Classic Hit “When You Say Nothing at All”

Listen to Keith Whitley, the Voice Behind the Classic Hit “When You Say Nothing at All”

The classic hit “When You Say Nothing at All” has four versions—Keith Whitley’s original in 1988, Alison Krauss and Union Station in 1995, Frances Black in 1996, and Ronan Keating ...

“No Heartbeat at All”: Phil Vassar Recounts How He Died Twice After Heart Attack and Stroke

“No Heartbeat at All”: Phil Vassar Recounts How He Died Twice After Heart Attack and Stroke

In a new interview published on August 8, country star Phil Vassar opened up about his near-death experience. “I was dead for 30 minutes a couple of times — died. ...

10 Best Bellamy Brothers Songs That Belong to Your Mellow Playlist

10 Best Bellamy Brother Songs That Belong to Your Mellow Playlist

Exploring the country sphere in different styles, the Bellamy Brothers’ songs brought a string of hit records to the music culture.  The Bellamy Brothers have produced mellow classics that have ...

American Idol Laine Hardy’s Moving Cover of “Will The Circle Be Unbroken”

American Idol Laine Hardy’s Moving Cover of “Will The Circle Be Unbroken”

In 2018, before he shot his chance to participate in the popular TV series “American Idol,” Laine Hardy was known for his acoustic covers of classic songs like “Will the ...

Country Music's Soulful Side: Jamey Johnson's "I Remember You"

Country Music’s Soulful Side: Jamey Johnson’s “I Remember You”

Jamey Johnson’s 2010 studio album Guitar Song features the track “I Remember You,” which highlights his expertise in evoking reminiscent and spiritual contemplations through music. Jamey Johnson is a prominent ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.