Patsy Cline – Who Can I Count On?

About The Song

“Who Can I Count On” is a classic country ballad recorded by Patsy Cline and released as the B-side to her major hit single “Crazy” on October 16, 1961, by Decca Records (catalog number 31317). Written by Sammy Masters, the song was produced by Owen Bradley at Bradley Film and Recording Studios (also known as Bradley Studios) in Nashville, Tennessee. The track was recorded on November 16, 1960, during the same productive session that yielded “Crazy,” featuring Cline’s expressive vocals backed by The Jordanaires’ harmonies, Floyd Cramer’s piano, Grady Martin’s guitar, and a full Nashville Sound arrangement with subtle strings and rhythm section. Clocking in at approximately 2:14, the song showcases the polished countrypolitan production style that defined Cline’s Decca era.

By late 1960 and into 1961, Patsy Cline (born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8, 1932, in Gore, Virginia) was experiencing her major breakthrough after signing with Decca Records in 1960. Following the success of “I Fall to Pieces” (No. 1 country, No. 12 Hot 100 in 1961), “Crazy” became one of her signature songs, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart (held off No. 1 by her own “I Fall to Pieces”) and No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Who Can I Count On” (B-side) charted separately, reaching No. 99 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961 and appearing on various charts as part of the “Crazy” single’s momentum. The single’s success helped propel Cline to international recognition during this pivotal period.

The lyrics express betrayal and doubt in a relationship, with the narrator questioning who to rely on after discovering their partner has been unfaithful (“They say you’re a-runnin’ ’round with somebody new”). Sammy Masters, a rockabilly and country artist, wrote the tune, which fit Cline’s ability to convey emotional vulnerability with strength. The November 1960 session captured Cline in top form, with Bradley’s production emphasizing her vocal nuance and the era’s signature lush instrumentation. “Who Can I Count On” appeared on the EP Patsy Cline (Decca ED 2707, January 1962) alongside “Crazy,” “Foolin’ ‘Round,” and “South of the Border,” as well as on her album Patsy Cline Showcase (Decca, 1961). It has since been included in numerous posthumous compilations, such as A Portrait of Patsy Cline (1964), The Patsy Cline Story (1963), Patsy Cline’s Greatest Hits (1967), and Sweet Dreams: Her Complete Decca Masters 1960-1963 (2010).

Though overshadowed by the monumental success of “Crazy,” “Who Can I Count On” remains a strong showcase of Cline’s interpretive depth and the Nashville Sound’s emotional resonance. It has been anthologized frequently and praised for its heartfelt delivery amid her string of early-1960s hits. The track stands as part of her transformative Decca period before her tragic death in a plane crash on March 5, 1963, at age 30, highlighting her influence as one of country music’s most enduring vocalists.

Video

Lyric

Who can I count on, if I can’t count on you?
I never counted on you making me blue
They say you’re a-runnin’ ’round with somebody new
Who can I count on, if I can’t count on you?

I thought I held a precious key to Heaven
Your love was sweet and gentle at the start
But now I feel that I can’t go on living
If living means that we must live apart

Who can I count on, if I can’t count on you?
There goes my happiness and here comes the blues
Who can I count on, if I can’t count on you?