Obviously it's about separated lovers. The lyrics sound a little bitter, as if the narrator doesn't quite want their lover to have as good a time on their own as if they were together, but I think the lover left behind is that sad that they'll be left on their own, and this would probably just be inner dialogue. On the outside, they probably wouldn't say 'I'll be lonely, and I hope you'll be lonely without me' lol.
If the lonely thing was said to the departing lover's face, it would probably be referring to being romantically and sexually lonely (ie. be faithful to me while we're apart), probably not emotional loneliness.
It's quite a lyrically honest way of looking at the situation in my opinion.
This isn't about a man controlling a woman or anything either, because this song is decades old, and both genders have recorded versions.
Obviously it's about separated lovers. The lyrics sound a little bitter, as if the narrator doesn't quite want their lover to have as good a time on their own as if they were together, but I think the lover left behind is that sad that they'll be left on their own, and this would probably just be inner dialogue. On the outside, they probably wouldn't say 'I'll be lonely, and I hope you'll be lonely without me' lol.
If the lonely thing was said to the departing lover's face, it would probably be referring to being romantically and sexually lonely (ie. be faithful to me while we're apart), probably not emotional loneliness.
It's quite a lyrically honest way of looking at the situation in my opinion.
This isn't about a man controlling a woman or anything either, because this song is decades old, and both genders have recorded versions.