Alone Again (Naturally) Fans' Memories [08.2002]
The summer of 1972 was very special because it introduced the world to an Irish singer-songwriter from England! Here are some of the messages which were send to gosullivan.com concering "Alone Again (Naturally)" as we celebrate it's 30th anniversary! Thanks for writing!
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, naturallyTo 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, naturallyIt 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 tearsAnd 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, naturallyWords & Music by Raymond O'Sullivan - Grand Upright Music Ltd.
It's a very rare thing when someone captures a moment in time, personalizes it, then throws it back out in the world where it strikes a universal chord. Such is the case with "Alone Again(Naturally)" by Gilbert O'Sullivan. The song has a timeless quality about it in a way that all great song standards do. The melody sounds like it has been around forever and the lyrics are a reminder to all of us about the human condition. These are qualities found in all great Art, and "Alone Again(Naturally)" is indeed a work of Art, that people - no matter what age, gender, race, or background - will always discover; 1972, 2002, 2082- it will alway be valid in the hearts and collective subconcious of people. Thanks Gilbert for giving us comfort in your song, and as we listen- you are giving us a most direct truth: all of us-everyone-at one time or another feels abandoned.
Chris Gavito
The first time I heard Alone Again (Naturally), I was eleven and totally wrapped up in mozart.It came over the radio and immediately I recognised the voice from Nothing rhymed. What gripped me was the emotion of the story being told. I later came to recognise this same quality,when listening to the Beatles,Elvis Costello,and Jacques Brel.This I now realise was craftsmanship ,combined with heart. In 1972 it was like magic. When I was in Swindon in 1983, I was whistling this song in an electronics factory.A wonderful lady introduced herself ,and proudly told me how she used to look after the boy O Sullivan. At the time I was beginning my journey with songwriting,and was thrilled when she told me that the songs were still "coming out".
Cheers
Cliff McAulay
I saw Gilbert at Glastonbury 2000. I was the one who knew all the lyrics.. along with a few others, including the lads with the Irish flag. Tonight I sang "Along again Naturally" at the Karaoke at the X-L Bar at East Finchley. I had them weeping in their beers. Gilbert O'Sullivan is probably the most under-rated artist of the the last three decades: A true song and dance man, without the dance.
Yours
Eddie Mason, ex-band member of Irish Moss Peat (made a slight impact in the 80's).
Of course I remember the first time I heard this marvelous song....I was shocked!!!!! I was in highschool, in Mexico City and there was this gorgeous girl I loved!!!! Marcela, was her name. As an amateur guitar player, I looked for the lyrics of the song in all the magazines available then, until I found it in one called "NOTITAS MUSICALES", from Mexico. The lyrics didn't make any sense to me, though, (they were a very lousy interpretation from the actual ones), but anyway, I learned the song and played it to Marcela a couple of weeks after I heard it for the first time. Marcela gave me a BIG KISS for that. Time after, I lost contact with her, but she came to be my best friend Moises's SISTER!
WOW!
Thanks for givin' us the chance to share our experiences and remembrances. Great Job, AMIGOS!
Ulises Troyo
Mexico City
I was surprised at the time. It was complete new music to me with it's own swing. I liked it very much and could not sit still when I heard the song on the radio. Nowadays I think it still very good music. I wished more songs like this were made.
Cisca - The Netherlands
I still get chills down my spine when I hear your song "Alone Again." And these days specially, because my mother is in hospital at 75 years old and she has Alzheimer desease. She doesn't recognize us at all, anymore. So when you sing "Despite encouragement from me, no words were ever spoken. And when she passed away, I cried and cried all day. Alone Again Naturally". I feel my heart beating and I get chicken-skin on my arms and legs and I also start to cry. You really touch my feelings with this song. Thank you for that.
Greetings from André Barnier - The Netherlands
La canción de Alone Again (Naturally), es una de las canciones más bonitas que he escuchado.
Chip Cafe - Mexico
Hola. Oi la cancion por primera vez en la radio y estuve buscando el disco durante unas semanas tarareando por todas las tiendas de discos pero nadie sabia que cancion era ni quien la cantaba. Un dia , sentado en el jardin de casa la oi en la radio del bar de enfrente y lo comente con mis amigos y uno dijo" es alone again y la canta Gilbert O´Sullivan" al momento me arregle y me puse a hacer autostop hasta que un señor me recogio y me llevo a Madrid, me fui a El Corte Inglés y me compré el disco. Cuando llegué a casa lo estuve escuchando unas cien veces y desde entonces he procurado coleccionar toda la música de Gilbert. Os envio un cordial saludo.
Julio -Espana
I hadn't been born yet when the song originally came out, so I'm wondering, is anyone able to submit their comments, or is it just for those who were actually around at that time? I'll go ahead and give you my story anyway, though. The first time I heard it played was on an oldies station a couple of years ago. I was riding along in the car at the time; if I remember correctly, my dad was driving me home from piano lesson. I was staring out the car window at a little green gate on the side of the road, when the song started. I immediately liked the singer, although at the time I wasn't used to hearing Irish accents so I couldn't understand all of what he was saying. All I understood was "remember I cried when my father died" and "alone again, naturally". Anyway, I thought it had a great melody, and I loved the singing. It was so catchy. I had never heard anything like that before. I would have been a major fan back then, but by the time I arrived home I had managed to forget all about the song. I memorised the singer's name though, so years later when I went through my dad's record collection and found a copy of "Himself", I remembered the name and set the record aside. My mom bought me a record player for my 17th birthday, so I was able to hear "Alone Again" for the second time in April of this year . Well, I guess that's all of my story. Sorry if I went into too much detail, I do that sometimes. I have a bit of a photographic memory, so when all I actually meant to do was memorise the singer's name, I ended up memorising the entire incident instead. Are you really going to send this to Gilbert? [yes]
Best wishes,
Elisabeth Redding
Yesterday I saw 'Stuart Little 2' with my youngest daughter Liselotte (8 years of age), here in Zoetermeer - The Netherlands. Liselotte liked the movie very much!! I myself - of course - was especially focussing on Gilbert's performance. And there it was: when Stuart Little was sad because he didn't really have a friend 'Alone Again (Naturally)' was aired (i.e. the first verse of it, and the guitar-break). I even heard a mummy at the back of me singing along!! Great, but too short. After the movie had ended I (naturally) awaited the credit titles. There it was, almost at the end (unfortunately by the time that all other people had already left the scene) it mentioned: 'Music: (among others) 'Alone Again (Naturally)', written by Raymond O'Sullivan, performed by Gilbert O'Sullivan, courtesy of Grand Upright Music Ltd. etc. etc. It made my day, 30 years after it's release!!
Rob van der Vaart -The Netherlands
Being honest, I must confess that I do not exactly recall the first time I heard 'Alone Again (Naturally)'. It must have been early 1972. I know the guitarsolo amazed me, being used to Gilbert's piano somehow. I have always wondered why the song wasn't a big hit in The Netherlands, as it was in other countries. In The Netherlands is did only reach to position 21 in the charts; far less than 'Nothing Rhymed' (no. 1), 'Underneath the blanket go' (no. 1), 'Get Down' (no. 3), 'Clair' (no. 4), 'Matrimony' (no. 4), 'I'll believe it when I see it' (no. 11), 'Ooh-wakka-doo-wakka-day' (no. 12) and 'No matter how I try' (no. 13). Even lower than 'Ooh baby' (no. 18) and 'I wish I could cry' (no. 20). 'We will' was the only Dutch GOS-hit that did not equal 'Alone Again (Naturally)', reaching to no. 23. 'Alone Again (Naturally)' - although not a great hit at it's time - is always present in Dutch 'Charts of the Century' - like the Top2000 of Radio2 - together with 'Nothing Rhymed', 'Matrimony', 'Clair' and 'Get Down'.
I also recall a lot of other singers performing the song; among others there was Shirley Bassey. In The Netherlands Kees van Kooten wrote beautiful Dutch lyrics on it, titled '1948'. No translation but about the third year after World War II. Gerard Cox, a Dutch performer who translated and recorded some other GOS songs (like 'Permissive Twit', with the Dutch title 'Linda') had a hit with it at the end of 1972, at the time Gilbert hit the charts with 'Clair' and Lynsey de Paul (also MAM!!) with 'Sugar me'. '1948' has become a Dutch classic!! So far my little story. Thanks for your initiative. 30 years ... time for a re-issue??!!
Rob van der Vaart -The Netherlands
