I was once very high and very lonely watching the last station on the air just outside Washington D.C. It was broadcasting some show about Hindu culture or something equally unentertaining. Then the station signed off the air, not with the national anthem which was the norm, but with America's "Lonely People" and the scenes from NASA. It was almost 40 years ago. I still remember that moment.
This clip pulls at my heartstrings. I watched this sign-off on television in eastern NC (I'm guessing WCTI) for many years as a youth--some of the best years of my early life. This clip made me fall in love with the song.
When I was 12 years old, I would try to stay up to watch this sign-off on WCTI - Channel 12 in New Bern NC. Thanks for posting, I can finally go to sleep now!
What year was that? I worked at WCTI from August 1977 - December 1980. I don't know how much longer they ran that sign off after I left. I guess you didn't own a Betamax. You could have recorded it!
One of the Richmond TV stations (probably WTVR-TV) ran this at sign-off in the 1970s. The voice-over at the end is legendary voice-over man Peter Thomas.
Great find! Even though I never personally saw this (I don't think any stations in the San Francisco Bay Area ever used this as a sign-off), I know others recall it and have been looking for it for quite some time. 7 out of 5 stars for this clip. (I also first heard of this on the Oddity Archive)
Thanks to Oddity Archive for turning me onto this. I was recently watching some of Ben's early videos again and came across the NASA sign off. Thankfully running through the comments lead me here.
This is for all the lonely people Thinking that life has passed them by Don't give up until you drink from the silver cup And ride that highway in the sky This is for all the single people Thinking that love has left them dry Don't give up until you drink from the silver cup You never know until you try Well, I'm on my way Yes, I'm back to stay Well, I'm on my way back home (Hit it) This is for all the lonely people Thinking that life has passed them by Don't give up until you drink from the silver cup And never take you down or never give you up You never know until you try
Whenever I Hear The Song "Lonely People" I Always Feel The Urge To Say Those Closing Words After The Song Ends: "N.A.S.A. Acknowledges The Collaboration Of Warner Brothers Records; America. Goodnight." For Some Reason, It Just Feels Right.
![ออกพรรษาน้ำตาหล่น - แอน อรดี [OFFICIAL MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PFZtOcY9ONA/mqdefault.jpg)
Many thanks to Ed Smith for finding it and uploading it and to Oddity Archive for putting together the recreation and keeping interest alive.
I was once very high and very lonely watching the last station on the air just outside Washington D.C. It was broadcasting some show about Hindu culture or something equally unentertaining. Then the station signed off the air, not with the national anthem which was the norm, but with America's "Lonely People" and the scenes from NASA. It was almost 40 years ago. I still remember that moment.
This clip pulls at my heartstrings. I watched this sign-off on television in eastern NC (I'm guessing WCTI) for many years as a youth--some of the best years of my early life. This clip made me fall in love with the song.
You guessed correctly about the station. It was WCTI-TV12. I worked there from 1977-1980.
Quick question: by chance do any of y'all have the video of WITN's final analog sign off?
When I was 12 years old, I would try to stay up to watch this sign-off on WCTI - Channel 12 in New Bern NC. Thanks for posting, I can finally go to sleep now!
What year was that? I worked at WCTI from August 1977 - December 1980. I don't know how much longer they ran that sign off after I left. I guess you didn't own a Betamax. You could have recorded it!
perhaps this link will give you memories th-cam.com/video/P3AWQZAPNPE/w-d-xo.html
Is it wrong that I cried when I first saw this?
No. It is an emotional song for me. It reminds me of my younger years.
One of the Richmond TV stations (probably WTVR-TV) ran this at sign-off in the 1970s. The voice-over at the end is legendary voice-over man Peter Thomas.
Peter Thomas? As in the Forensic Files narrator?
@@jareddicarlo7816 yep!
Great find! Even though I never personally saw this (I don't think any stations in the San Francisco Bay Area ever used this as a sign-off), I know others recall it and have been looking for it for quite some time. 7 out of 5 stars for this clip.
(I also first heard of this on the Oddity Archive)
+iamnomad101 ODDITY got me here too.
OA brought me here, too.
That's so awesome! Glad it's been found.
Thanks to Oddity Archive for turning me onto this.
I was recently watching some of Ben's early videos again and came across the NASA sign off.
Thankfully running through the comments lead me here.
Many, many nights after work I spent with this - thanks for finding.
Thanks for posting. Always my favorite way to close the broadcasting day. Never thought I'd see it again.
Who's the one person that gave this a thumbs down? Probably some conspiracy theory kook who believes we didn't land on the moon.
I know, right?
This is for all the lonely people
Thinking that life has passed them by
Don't give up until you drink from the silver cup
And ride that highway in the sky
This is for all the single people
Thinking that love has left them dry
Don't give up until you drink from the silver cup
You never know until you try
Well, I'm on my way
Yes, I'm back to stay
Well, I'm on my way back home (Hit it)
This is for all the lonely people
Thinking that life has passed them by
Don't give up until you drink from the silver cup
And never take you down or never give you up
You never know until you try
Whenever I Hear The Song "Lonely People" I Always Feel The Urge To Say Those Closing Words After The Song Ends: "N.A.S.A. Acknowledges The Collaboration Of Warner Brothers Records; America. Goodnight." For Some Reason, It Just Feels Right.
And in answer to the question in another comment, yes, WTTG-TV in DC did run this at sign-off, also in the 1970s.
I live in Washington tv in the 1970s..and I heard the signoff evert weeknight at 2 a.m.
Is it true WTTG in DC used this for their sign-off?
Yes.
Also WAWS (now WFOX) in Jacksonville, FL.
Sure did! I used to try and stay up to see it. Some nights I watched it but most nights it watched me. LOL!
John Morgan
Trish Morgan
It's been found!