Peak
2
Weeks
17
Score
3,227
Chart Year
1963
Scores & Rankings
Chart Performance
Peak Position2
Peak DateMar 23, 1963
Weeks at Peak1
Weeks Charted17
Weeks in Top 4013
Weeks in Top 106
Weeks at #21
Weeks at #10
Scoring
Summary Calc1,518
Weekly Calc1,709
Total Score3,227
Rankings
Year Ranking#18
Decade Ranking#220
Billboard Year#20
Top 5000#3,306
Details
- Label
- RCA Victor
- Genre
- Country pop
- Composer(s)
- Arthur Kent;Sylvia Dee
- Entered Chart
- Jan 26, 1963
- Peak Date
- Mar 23, 1963
- Released
- December 1962
- Recorded
- June 8, 1962 Studio RCA Studio B, Nashville
- Catalog #
- RCA Victor 47-8098
- B-Side
- Somebody Loves You
Music Video
///
Notes
This tune was originally an international hit for Country artist Skeeter Davis, peaking at #2 in the US in 1963. The record achieved the unusual feat of reaching the Top 10 on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop, Adult Contemporary, R&B and Country charts. Davis' four-chart top-ten accomplishment has never been duplicated by any other female vocalist in the history of Billboard. Davis' original version was produced by Chet Atkins and the song was played at the legendary country producer's funeral in 2001. Britain's Got Talent star Susan Boyle covered this on her 2009 debut album, I Dreamed a Dream. Many other artists have recorded the song, including the Carpenters, Herman's Hermits, Brenda Lee, Bobby Vinton, John Cougar Mellencamp, Johnny Mathis, Julie London and Eddy Arnold. Also British pop singer Sonia recorded a version in 1990, which peaked at #18 in the UK, the same position as Skeeter Davis' original. This was used during a pivotal scene in the 1999 film Girl, Interrupted, where it's continuously played on Daisy's (Brittany Murphy) record player.
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 more Why 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 love I 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 does Why 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, "Good-bye" Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm (Why do these eyes of mine cry?) Mmm, mmm, mmm Don't they know it's the end of the world? It ended when you said, "Good-bye"
Chart History (17 weeks)
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 26, 1963 | 84 | 42 |
| 2 | Feb 2, 1963 | 65 | 61 |
| 3 | Feb 9, 1963 | 48 | 78 |
| 4 | Feb 16, 1963 | 36 | 90 |
| 5 | Feb 23, 1963 | 21 | 105 |
| 6 | Mar 2, 1963 | 12 | 114 |
| 7 | Mar 9, 1963 | 7 | 119 |
| 8 | Mar 16, 1963 | 4 | 122 |
| 9 | Mar 23, 1963 | 2 | 124 |
| 10 | Mar 30, 1963 | 3 | 123 |
| 11 | Apr 6, 1963 | 3 | 123 |
| 12 | Apr 13, 1963 | 4 | 122 |
| 13 | Apr 20, 1963 | 11 | 115 |
| 14 | Apr 27, 1963 | 14 | 112 |
| 15 | May 4, 1963 | 24 | 102 |
| 16 | May 11, 1963 | 32 | 94 |
| 17 | May 18, 1963 | 63 | 63 |