only the lonely is a song by american new wave band the motels, released in april 1982 by capitol records as the first single from their third studio album, all four one (1982). Michaelbrenden from dc, md spooky mild reverb, mystical mind's veils waving, and star shimmers of the heart, this is one of my favorite, iconic 80s songs Music video by the motels performing only the lonely.© 1982 capitol records, llc
It's like i told you only the lonely can play [verse 2] so hold on, here we go hold on to nothin' we know i feel so lonely way up here you mention the time we were together so long ago, well i don. Roy orbison's song peaked at #2 (for 1 week) in 1960 and laflavour reached #91 in 1980 The motel’s martha davis sings “only the lonely” and makes it sound so depressing
The vocal is clearly what makes the song The lyrics remain a bit cryptic What exactly is it that ‘only the lonely can play’? The chorus—”only the lonely can play”—is the heart of the song’s message
This line suggests that loneliness is an experience only understood by those who have felt it deeply, as though there’s a kind of exclusive club for those who know the ache of isolation. She began singing the lyrics to this song to me where i first met her at work, only the lonely can play she would sing and then kiss on my list by hall and oates. Two other records titled only the lonely have made the top 100
