One of the first CDs i got, was a used one from my brother, a love song compilation with about 40 "oldies". I listened to it A LOT, and my favorite was "Alone again (naturally)" by Gilbert O`Sullivan. The CD is now marked by the years, with more scrathes than i can count, but "Alone again" still works, and always make me think back on all the times i`ve listened to it through the years.

I love this one, from start to finish. It's a perfect sad song, simple and beautiful. Beneath its drama and the really melodramatic lyrics, it's a sweet, somber song. I especially love the verse about the passing of his father and mother.



In a little while from now
If I’m not feeling any less sour
I promise myself to treat myself
And visit a nearby tower
And climbing to the top will throw myself off
In an effort to make it clear to who
Ever what it’s like when you’re shattered
Left standing in the lurch at a church
Where people saying: "My God, that’s tough
She's stood him up"
No point in us remaining
We may as well go home
As I did on my own
Alone again, naturally

To think that only yesterday
I was cheerful, bright and gay
Looking forward to well wouldn’t do
The role I was about to play
But as if to knock me down
Reality came around
And without so much, as a mere touch
Cut me into little pieces
Leaving me to doubt
Talk about God and His mercy
Or if He really does exist
Why did He desert me in my hour of need
I truly am indeed Alone again, naturally

It seems to me that there are more hearts
broken in the world that can’t be mended
Left unattended
What do we do? What do we do?
Alone again, naturally

Now looking back over the years
And whatever else that appears
I remember I cried when my father died
Never wishing to hide the tears
And at sixty-five years old
My mother, God rest her soul,
Couldn’t understand why the only man
She had ever loved had been taken
Leaving her to start with a heart so badly broken
Despite encouragement from me
No words were ever spoken
And when she passed away
I cried and cried all day
Alone again, naturally
Alone again, naturally

RipHer2Shreds said:

I`m glad you like it, i was afraid i would be the only one. It`s a classic, and the entire song just has a special feeling to it, the lyric and especially the melody

Icicle said:

well, you're not

I have a Best of compilation from him on vinyl, haven't listened to it in ages but well, I like this one and some others of his songs (Clair, Matrimony, Get Down, What's in a kiss...)



will I get banned for this ?

Dancelot said:

I haven`t heard anything else by him, i know he released a greatest-hits cd a while ago. Maybe i should go christmas-shopping soon

Icicle said:

maybe you'll recognize some songs once you hear them. he wrote extremely catchy melodies over rather simple (sounding) chord changes, melodies which "click" instantly and make you singalong... melodies that follow you around all day if you hear them in the morning

Dancelot said:

That`s what i like

I like it too

I fuckin love this song! I learned about it when the Biz Markie was famously sued for sampling the first 4 bars of music without permission. That song was removed from his album, but I have it.

CinisterCee said:

it was?!? it is on my copy however

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[Edited 12/13/05 1:46am]

Such a sad song, but I've always loved the melody! It gets stuck in your head....but then, some of the best songs are about some of the saddest things....


...

paligap said:

Yeah,it's a tearjerker,isn't it?

But I love it....sounds really heartfelt.

DavidEye said:

Ndeed!! ... ...



...

Dancelot said:

Yeah after the lawsuit, you couldn't buy Need A Haircut with that song on it.


Original pressing

Beautiful song , but what do you think about Har Mar Superstars version ??

Nichola said:

I bought his album after hearing his version live.

I love this song, though when I was younger, I thought it was Paul McCartney singing.

Icicle said:

I know that he had another hit with the song "Clair", but then he disappeared. There was a story that he had hung himself, a few year back. I hope that it is not true.

it is very beatlesque! Or should I say their ancestors... beeGees-esque

JesseDezz said:

ufoclub said:

I agree, only it`s better than most of the Beatles songs

I think that was the #1 song the day I was born. Sounds fitting for me.

funkyslsistah said:

I had the miscarriage anthem "Another One Bites The Dust" as my birthday #1.

hmmff.

Icicle said:

ufoclub said: