"Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night in the Week)", also known as"Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night of the Week)", is apopularsong published in1944 with music byJule Styne and lyrics bySammy Cahn.[1]
Although it has been interpreted as referring to the separation of romantic partners during wartime,[2][3] Cahn said that song actually refers toshow business people who are not working on Saturday night.[1][4]
Charted versions in 1945 were byFrank Sinatra[5] (recorded November 14, 1944, released byColumbia Records as catalog number 36762),[6] (No. 2 in the charts),Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra (vocal byNancy Norman) (No. 6),Frankie Carle and His Orchestra (vocal by Phyllis Lynne) (No. 8),Woody Herman and His Orchestra (vocal byFrances Wayne) (No. 15) and byThe King Sisters (No. 15).[7]
I can go out Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, but if you're in show business, Saturday night is the loneliest night in the week.
For the first few months of the year [1945], songs of loneliness still abounded until servicemen returned to the states.
Cahn explained that Saturday night is for 'civilians,' but people in the business who aren't working stay home.