About The Song
“I’m Blue Again” is a classic country heartbreak ballad recorded by Patsy Cline and released as the B-side to her single “Gotta Lot of Rhythm in My Soul” on July 20, 1959, by Decca Records (catalog number 9-30929). Written by Buster Beam, Lawton Jiles, and W.S. Stevenson (a pseudonym used by 4 Star Records executive Bill McCall), the track was recorded on January 9, 1959, at Bradley Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. The session, lasting from 14:20 to 17:00, produced both sides of the single, with Cline backed by top Nashville session musicians including guitarist Hank Garland. Clocking in at 2:08, the song features a mid-tempo country-blues arrangement that highlights Cline’s vocal range and emotional delivery, with acoustic guitar, subtle rhythm, and no heavy orchestration—typical of her late 1950s 4 Star/Decca period before the fuller Nashville Sound production of the early 1960s.
During this phase of her career, Patsy Cline (born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8, 1932, in Gore, Virginia) was still under contract with 4 Star Records, distributed through Decca. She had achieved her first major breakthrough in 1957 with “Walkin’ After Midnight,” which reached No. 2 on the country charts and No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, follow-up singles in the late 1950s, including “Gotta Lot of Rhythm in My Soul / I’m Blue Again,” did not chart on the Billboard country or pop lists. The A-side showcased an uptempo side of Cline’s style, while “I’m Blue Again” offered a more traditional country lament about returning sadness after a lover’s departure. The single appeared on various compilations later, including the 1964 Decca EP How Can I Face Tomorrow (ED 2768) and the 1964 album That’s How a Heartache Begins (Decca DL-4586/DL-74586), as well as posthumous collections like Today, Tomorrow, and Forever (1964).
The song’s lyrics capture the recurring pain of lost love, with lines reflecting on friends’ warnings and the heart’s lingering memory despite the end of the relationship. Though not a chart success, “I’m Blue Again” is regarded by historians and fans as one of Cline’s strongest recordings from her pre-1960s era, demonstrating her interpretive skill in country-blues material. The track was buried on the B-side, a decision some sources describe as a misstep by the label, given its vocal prowess and fit for her style. It has since been included in numerous anthologies, such as Her Original Four Star Hits, 28 Golden Hits, and various greatest hits packages, keeping it in circulation among classic country enthusiasts.
Behind the scenes, the January 1959 session at Bradley Studios (804 16th Avenue South) captured Cline during a transitional period as she moved toward greater national exposure. Producer Owen Bradley oversaw many of her Nashville recordings, though Paul Cohen handled some earlier Decca dates; this particular track benefited from Bradley’s influence in refining her sound. Co-writer W.S. Stevenson was closely tied to 4 Star, which controlled much of Cline’s early catalog. “I’m Blue Again” remains an underrated gem in her discography, often praised for its authentic country feel and Cline’s ability to convey deep melancholy. It stands as a bridge between her honky-tonk beginnings and the polished hits of her final years before her tragic death in a plane crash on March 5, 1963, at age 30.
Video
Lyric
I’m blue again
My friends all said I’d be
I’m blue again
Because you’re leavin’ meThis heart of mine
So well remembers you
Although I’ve lost your love to someone newI’m blue again
My world has tumbled down
I’m blue again
There’s sorrow all aroundThe dreams we built together
Have all turned out so wrong
I’m blue again
Since you have gone