I used to call it the Graveyard song when I was little, I thought it was one of the scariest most ghost filled song anyone had ever written.

It was full of souls in torment and the man in charge wore black- just like Death.

So of course I loved it and would sing ” Heartbreak Hotel” at the drop of a hat.

Years later I learned the song ( written by Mae Boren Axton )… read a story in the Miami Herald about a man who had committed suicide.  The man had no identification, and he only left a note with a few words on it: “I walk a lonely street.” 

A couple of years ago I went to New Orleans for Halloween and visited the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and the entire time I was there taking pictures and wandering the grounds I sang this song to myself- though I was in New Orleans and I shot these pictures on Halloween afternoon, so I didn’t exactly sing it to myself quietly.

Well, since my baby left me
Well, I found a new place to dwell
Well, it’s down at the end of Lonely Street
At Heartbreak Hotel
Where I’ll be–where I get so lonely, baby
Well, I’m so lonely
I get so lonely, I could die

Although it’s always crowded
You still can find some room
For broken-hearted lovers
To cry there in the gloom
And be so, where they’ll be so lonely, baby
Well, they’re so lonely
They’ll be so lonely, they could die

Well, the bellhop’s tears keep flowin’
And the desk clerk’s dressed in black
Well, they’ve been so long on Lonely Street
Well, they’ll never, they’ll never get back
And they’ll be so, where they’ll be so lonely, baby
Well, they’re so lonely
They’ll be so lonely, they could die

Well now, if your baby leaves you
And you have a sad tale to tell
Just take a walk down Lonely Street
To Heartbreak Hotel
And you will be, you will be, you will be lonely, baby
You’ll be so lonely
You’ll be so lonely, you could die

Well, though it’s always crowded
You still can find some room
For broken-hearted lovers
To cry there in the gloom
And they’ll be so, they’ll be so lonely, baby
They’ll be so lonely
They’ll be so lonely, they could die