Does anyone remember who sang 'It Might Have Been' from the late fifties or early sixties? I think it was Joe London, but can't find anything on this person. The song started out, "The saddest words of tongue or pen, are these four words, it might have been."

"For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'" from Whittier's "Maud Miller"

Neil Young did this as song.

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/neilyoung/itmighthavebeen.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Greenleaf_Whittier#Quotes

Is this what you are looking for, John Whittiers, It might have been.
http://riannanworld.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/08/it_might_have_b.html

John Greenleaf Whittier (December 17, 1807 – September 7, 1892) was an American Quaker poet and forceful advocate of the abolition of slavery in the United States. My top post gives him credit for the actual quote. Since he died in 1892, I highly doubt he sang the song in the late fifties or early sixties, unless of course we are talking the 1850's and 1860's.

;)

Yes, Neil Young did a later version with some wrong lyrics included. This was sung in the late fifties or early sixties. I used to have it on 45 (yes, I'm old), and I would have sworn somebody named Joe London (not Laurie) sang it. It's the only song I can't find anywhere. It was probably a one hit wonder. Thanks for trying anyhow.

My "oldies experts" have come back with this information, and I have an mp3 of the song if you are interested.

"In 1959, Joe London got to #112 with this song."

"Yes, Joe London did this song in 1959. It was done on Liberty Label. Liberty F55209."

"Wow - I never checked my Billboard book 'Bubbling Under The Hot 100' or I would have found this:
Joe London - It Might Have Been, # 112, 1959, one week on 'Bubbling'; b-side 'Lonesome Whistle'; released first on Dinamo Records (worth $20), then on Liberty (worth $15). This was his only 'Bubbling' hit, and he never made the Hot 100."

I don't have a reference, this is a group of people I've met online with extensive knowledge of old recordings, particularly 45s, and record collections to match.