The same sorts of doubt assailed poor Mr. Presley when he sang “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” a song whose melodic section consists only of rhetorical aporias.22 Here, we must suppose that he really wants an answer. If she is lonesome tonight and her memory does stray to bright and osculatory summer days, then he’s a happy man. If on the other hand she’s got plenty of company tonight thank you very much, he’s in trouble. Here, there is an answer, we just don’t know what it is. How do you do what you do to me? Will you still love me tomorrow? Who’s that girl running around with you?
