"Lonely Too Long" is a song written by Bill Rice, Sharon Vaughn and Mike Lawler, and recorded by American country music artist Patty Loveless. It was released in August 1996 as the third single from her eight album, The Trouble with the Truth (1996). It charted for 20 weeks on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart, reaching No. 1 during the week of November 16, 1996.

The song was originally recorded by Doug Stone, whose version was never released.^[1]

Critical reception

Reviews of the song were positive. Larry Flick from Billboard noted that Loveless' voice "exudes a variety of emotion on this well-written tune".^[2] Wendy Newcomer from Cash Box wrote, "Loveless’ delicate explanation of “the morning after” is as inviting and seductive as the night before in “Lonely Too Long”. “Well good morning/Tell me how did you sleep last night/You’re still smiling/So we must have done something right...” With a voice as honest and forthcoming and Loveless’, listeners will find it hard to turn her away."^[3]

Charts

Weekly charts[edit]

Chart (1996)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)^[4]	3
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[5]	1

Year-end charts[edit]

Chart (1996)	Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)^[6]	67
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[7]	63

References

^ ASCAP search "Lonely Too Long"
^ Flick, Larry (August 31, 1996). "Reviews". Billboard: 116.
^ Newcomer, Wendy (September 7, 1996). "Country Music" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 21. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 9926." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. November 25, 1996. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
^ "Patty Loveless Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1996". RPM. December 16, 1996. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
^ "Best of 1996: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1996. Retrieved July 20, 2013.

v t e Patty Loveless
Discography Awards and nominations
Studio albums	Patty Loveless If My Heart Had Windows Honky Tonk Angel On Down the Line Up Against My Heart Only What I Feel When Fallen Angels Fly The Trouble with the Truth Long Stretch of Lonesome Strong Heart Mountain Soul Bluegrass & White Snow: A Mountain Christmas On Your Way Home Dreamin' My Dreams Mountain Soul II
Compilation albums	Greatest Hits Classics
Notable singles	"If My Heart Had Windows" "A Little Bit in Love" "Blue Side of Town" "Don't Toss Us Away" "Timber, I'm Falling in Love" "The Lonely Side of Love" "Chains" "On Down the Line" "The Night's Too Long" "I'm That Kind of Girl" "Blue Memories" "Hurt Me Bad (In a Real Good Way)" "Jealous Bone" "Can't Stop Myself from Loving You" "Blame It on Your Heart" "Nothin' but the Wheel" "You Will" "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye" "I Try to Think About Elvis" "Here I Am" "You Don't Even Know Who I Am" "Halfway Down" "You Can Feel Bad" "A Thousand Times a Day" "Lonely Too Long" "She Drew a Broken Heart" "The Trouble with the Truth" "You Don't Seem to Miss Me" "To Have You Back Again" "High on Love" "Can't Get Enough" "My Kind of Woman/My Kind of Man" "That's the Kind of Mood I'm In" "The Last Thing on My Mind" "Lovin' All Night" "Why Baby Why" "Busted"
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