About The Song
The Four Tops had hits that were bigger than “Ask The Lonely,” but few that were better. The composition by Ivy Jo Hunter and William “Mickey” Stevenson was the quartet’s third Motown single, its elegantly heartbroken sentiment magnificently illustrated with the Tops’ trademark harmonies, further vocal backing by the Andantes, fabulous instrumentation by the Funk Brothers and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and, of course, the fervent lead lines of the irreplaceable Levi Stubbs.
Speaking in the notes for The Complete Motown Singles Volume 5, Hunter revealed that this timelessly soulful entry in the group’s body of work came to life in no time. “A lot of people could identify with it, even though it wasn’t a chart-burner,” he said, recalling of the session: “I hadn’t finished the lyrics, and everyone was downstairs in the studio. I wrote it in about 15 minutes, ’cause I had to get downstairs for the dub-in.”
Video
Lyrics
Just ask the lonelyWhen you feel that needTo make it all alone,Remember no one is thinking of,Going aloneJust ask the lonelyThey know the hurt and pain,Of losing a love, you can never regainJust ask the lonelyJust ask the lonelyThe young and foolish laugh at love (Woo hoo)So they run away (Woo hoo hoo hoo)Confident and sure that fate (Woo hoo)Will bring another love their wayBut ask the lonely(Ah) How vainly a heart can yearn,(Ah) For losing a love that will never returnJust ask the lonelyJust ask the lonelyThey’ll tell youOoh, Woo hoo hoo hoo oohThey’ll tell you a story of sadness,(Ah) A story too hard to believeAh, they’ll tell you the loneliest one is meJust ask the lonelyJust ask the lonelyAsk meI’m the loneliest one you’ll seeJust ask the lonely