Why does the sun go on shining? Why does the sea rush to shore? These aching questions open a song that has haunted listeners for more than six decades.
Skeeter Davis, born Mary Frances Penick, recorded this timeless country ballad in 1962. Her powerful vocals and the song’s melancholic melody turned it into an instant sensation. It soared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Davis a Grammy nomination. The song’s universal theme of heartbreak after love ends resonates just as deeply today as it did then.
Written by Bill Cook, the track captures the bewildering feeling when the world keeps spinning even though your personal world has crumbled. Davis brought a raw emotional weight to the lyrics that made the song a favorite for countless cover artists and a staple in films and television shows. Its haunting power endures.
A recent performance by Dolly Parton at the 2019 Grammy Awards reminds us of the song’s lasting influence. A photograph by Robyn Beck of AFP captures that very moment, underscoring how classic songs continue to inspire new generations of performers.
Here are the lyrics that have spoken to so many hearts over the years.
Why does the sun go on shining
Why does the sea rush to shore
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
Cause you don’t love me any moreWhy do the birds go on singing
Why do the stars glow above
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
It ended when I lost your loveI wake up in the morning and I wonder
Why everything’s the same as it was
I can’t understand no I can’t understand
How life goes on the way it doesWhy does my heart go on beating
Why do these eyes of mine cry
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
It ended when you said goodbyeWhy does my heart go on beating
Why do these eyes of mine cry
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
It ended when you said goodbye