Claim: Song Sung Blue is a work of music.

`` Song Sung Blue '' is a 1972 hit song written and recorded by Neil Diamond , inspired by the second movement of Mozart 's Piano Concerto # 21 . The song was released on Diamond 's album , Moods and later appeared on many of Diamond 's live and compilation albums .   It was his second No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States , after 1970 's `` Cracklin ' Rosie '' , and to date his last . The song spent twelve weeks in the Top 40 . In addition , `` Song Sung Blue '' spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart . It also made the pop chart in the United Kingdom , reaching No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart . The song has become one of Diamond 's standards , and he often performs it during concerts .   `` Song Sung Blue '' was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1973 , Record of the Year and Song of the Year . Both awards that year were won by Roberta Flack 's rendition of Ewan MacColl 's song , `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' .   Diamond described `` Song Sung Blue '' in the liner notes to his 1996 compilation album , In My Lifetime , as a `` very basic message , unadorned . I did n't even write a bridge to it . I never expected anyone to react to `` Song Sung Blue '' the way they did . I just like it , the message and the way a few words said so many things . ''   The song inspired the title of a 2008 documentary about a Neil Diamond impersonator who was married to a Patsy Cline impersonator .