Blue Eyes Cryin’ In The Rain

As guitarists, we all come to this crossroad at one point or another. Give up, or work harder. What will you do?

“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” is a song written by songwriter Fred Rose. First recorded by Elton Britt in early 1947, then made more popular by Roy Acuff later that year, the song has been covered by many artists, including Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Russell, Charley Pride, and Elvis Presley. Most notably, the song was recorded by Willie Nelson as part of his 1975 album Red Headed Stranger. Both the song and album revived Nelson’s success as a singer and recording artist.

Originally recorded in 1947 by Acuff, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” was recorded by Hank Williams in 1951 for the Mother’s Best Flour Hour. Other early remakes of the song were made by Donn Reynolds (MGM single – June 1957), Ferlin Husky (album Ferlin’s Favorites – November 1959), Slim Whitman (album Country Favorites – 1959), Gene Vincent (recorded October 15, 1958; album Crazy Times! -1960), Bill Anderson (album …Sings Country Heart Songs – January 15, 1962), John D. Loudermilk (album Country Love Songs Plain and Simply Sung – August 1968), Hank Snow (album Greatest Hits) and Conway Twitty (album Hello Darlin’ – June 1970).

The version by Willie Nelson, recorded for his 1975 concept album Red Headed Stranger, which was about a fugitive preacher on the run from the law after killing his wife, was lauded by country music historian Bill Malone as “a fine example of clean, uncluttered country music, [with] a spare arrangement that could have come straight out of the 1940s.” Rolling Stone noted the song was delivered with his “jazz-style phrasing” and was “the beating heart of Red Headed Stranger.”