Alone Again (Naturally)

Written by Gilbert O'Sullivan.

Released on the 1976 album Love, Life And Feelings.
A live recording has been released on the album Live In Japan 1977.
Shirley Bassey has performed this song on more live concerts, and in one of her 1976 TV shows she has performed it together with Gilbert O'Sullivan himself, whom she had invited as guest.

The song is available on CD on the collection Let Me Sing And I'm Happy and the 3 CD box set Diamonds Are Forever.

This song had originally been recorded and released by Gilbert O'Sullivan 1971 on a single (outside of the UK: 1972). The song was 1972 on the US-issue of the "Himself" album (his debut album), and in the same year on the European issue (except UK) of his "Back To Front" album. He reached position number one in the US Billboard charts with this song 1972, and sold over a million copies of the single.

Gilbert O'Sullivan was born 1946 in Waterford, Ireland as Raymond O'Sullivan. He had issued his first recordings under the name "Gilbert" and some years later added his surname. "Alone Again (Naturally)" was his breakthrough to the international market. 1972 he had two more hits "Clair" and "Get Down", which both became number one in the UK and top ten places in the US. His "Back to Front" LP also became number one in the UK. But then his success declined already again.

At the end of the 1980's "Alone Again (Naturally)" was used as the closing theme song of "Masion Ikkoku", a Japanese animated series. Thereby a new Japanese generation discovered Gilbert's music and his popularity grew in Japan. His songs have been re-issued in Japan and he performs there regularly. Some his 1990's albums have only been released in Japan, and are designed for the Asian market. In 2000 he has released his last recent studio album in Japan.
 

Lyrics:

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 right off

In an effort to

Make it clear to whoever
What it's like when you're shattered

Left standing in the lurch

At a church
Where people saying
"My God it's tough

She's stood him up
No point in us remaining

We might 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

Who wouldn't do

The role I was about to play

As if to knock my down

Reality came around

And without so much

As a mere touch
Cut me into little pieces

Leaving me to doubt
Talk about

God in his mercy

Who 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?

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

When she passed away

I cried and cried all day

Alone again

Naturally

Alone again

Naturally

(transcribed by Roman <scribbler@gmx.net>)

Notice by Roman:

I know that there are many people in the world with similar bad experiences and feelings like described in the song, but against to what the song says, this is not "naturally". God did not "desert" you! Have you really ever tried to contact him? Before you think about suicide, you should check if you know the meaning of your life. God has not created the wonderful human to live for a few years, eat, drink and then die.

Every machine created by a man has a purpose.
What is the purpose of your life?
Why has God put you on earth?
My main interest in life is to help people to learn to know God, and to get a firm relation to him, and thereby to find the meaning of life. God who created life, also knows what is the best for your life.

If you want to learn more about this contact me, and I'll try to help you; help - not with my own power - but with the strength of God's word. I don't want money from you; I'm doing this in my free time.
Take the chance and write me - it may change your life. Because of the spatially distance I may not be able to come to your home personally, but maybe I can write you, or, if you give me your address, I can send you something.
There exists an "encouragement" for you, that let's you take delight in your life again.

This is the first time that I'm using the internet for this theme, and I'm curious how many will reply. I hope I can give some readers an impulse. You can contact me also if you don't think about suicide, but think about the meaning of life.