Musical Career
The son of a British army officer, Alan moved to Rhodesia with his parents shortly before his fourteenth birthday. As a child he performed in various school musical activities but harboured no pretensions of being anything more than ordinary. He learnt to play guitar at fifteen and, after completing his schooling at Milton High in Bulawayo, trained and worked as a radiographer. As a hobby he sang in local pubs and hotels. It was during this period that Alan realised that he had a three-octave range in his voice. He formed a band in Bulawayo (see TABBRON TRIO) and penned his first seven single, a song called "Coloured Rain". He scored an immediate success with this tune as it raced up the Rhodesian record charts, peaking at Number 2.
With gathering confidence in his musical prospects, Alan gave up his occupation as a radiographer and landed a job as the resident vocalist at the Swaziland Holiday Inn in 1972. The well known Peter Lotis of Gallo records heard Alan perform at this venue and offered him a recording contract. At Peter's suggestion, Alan recorded "Put Your Hand In The Hand" and the song achieved instant success, quickly dominating the local charts. It also made Alan a household name. The song topped the Springbok Top 20 for four weeks and the Rhodesian charts for five. This run at No 1 started on 5 June, 1971.
In 1971 he was presented the Springbok Award as South Africa's 'Most Promising Male Vocalist'. In September, 1971, his first album predictably entitled "Put Your Hand In The Hand" was released.
His next chart success, "I Need Someone", held the record for over ten years as the song with the longest chart run on Springbok Radio's Top 20 hit parade. It spent 33 weeks on the charts between June 1972 and January 1973. This song - which peaked at No 2 on Springbok's Top 20 - earned him two Gold Discs, as well as the 1972 SARI Award as 'Best Song Of The Year'. In 1973, he won that year's award for 'Best LP Of The Year', as well as the SARI Award for 'Best Male Vocalist'.
"Home Isn't Home Anymore" was Alan's next chart entry, spending 16 weeks on Springbok's Top 20, peaking at No 5 in 1973. In December, 1973, he released his third album, "Goodbye Mama", which peaked at No 15 in January, 1974, spending 7 weeks on the Top 20. The single, "Give Me Back My Woman", from this album reached No 9 in the Top 20 in April, 1974, and was present on the charts for 10 weeks. In November, 1974, he released the album "Words and Music" having composed all the songs and lyrics himself.
In 1975 he won his second SARI Award as 'Best Male Vocalist' and succeeded in getting yet another song onto the charts - "She's My Woman". This release reached No 15.
In 1976, Alan's acting skills came to the fore when he took the lead role of Joseph in PACT's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat", performing alongside well known artists such as Richard Loring, Jody Wayne and Wayne and Alvin Collison. This production toured extensively throughout South Africa and Rhodesia.
Hit singles continued to accumulate with "Santa Maria" reaching No 4 on the Springbok Top 20 in 1981, spending 11 weeks on the charts. Once again, in 1981, he garnered the SARI Awards for 'Best Male Vocalist', as well as 'Best Top Twenty Artist'. In April, 1982, he swan-songed the charts with "You Stood By Me" which reached No 18.
Since then Alan and his family have spent much of their time touring the world from their home in Manchester, England, although he maintained a home in Kleinmond as well. He continues to sing and is involved in cruise director's duties aboard luxury ocean liners.
Singles
Put Your Hand In The Hand (1971)
The Dream Waltz (1971)
Somehow, Somewhere (1971)
I Need Someone (1971)
Till The Rivers All Run Dry (1972)
Home Isn't Home Anymore (1972)
I'll Have To Dream (1973)
Goodbye Mama (1973)
Give Me Back My Woman (1974)
Look What You've Done (1974)
She's My Woman (1975)
Sunshine In My World (1976)
You're Losing Me (1980)
Santa Maria (1981)
You Stood By Me (1982)
Oh Louisa (1982)
Albums
Put Your Hand In The Hand (1971)
I Need Someone (1972)
Goodbye Mama (1973)
Alan Garrity & Pat Matthews (1973)
Words & Music (1974)
Feelings (1976)
Santa Maria (1981)
A Song For You (1982)
Christmas With Alan Garrity (1985)
Licensed To Sing (1989)
A Portrait Of Alan Garrity (1997)
Alan has had his music published and recorded overseas and his records have been released in Holland, Germany, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Argentina.
SARIE Awards
1972 - Song Of The Year (I Need Someone)
1973 - Album Of The Year (I Need Someone)
1973 & 1975 - Best Male Vocalist
1981 - Top 20 Artist Of The Year (Santa Maria)
Father And Son
Alan Garrity Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just relax
Take it easy
You're still young
That's your fault
There's so much you have to know
Find a girl
If you want you can marry
Look at me
I am old
But I'm happy
I was once like you are now
And I know that it's not easy
To be calm
When you've found something going on
But take your time
Think a lot
Why, think of everything you've got
For you will still be here tomorrow
But your dreams may not
How can I try to explain?
'Cause when I do he turns away again
It's always been the same
Same old story
From the moment I could talk
I was ordered to listen
Now there's a way
And I know that I have to go away
I know
I have to go
It's not time to make a change
Just sit down
Take it slowly
You're still young (I)
That's your fault (Know)
There's so much you have to go through (This decision)
Find a girl
Settle down
If you want
You can marry
Look at me (Look)
I am old (Look)
But I'm happy
All the times that I cried (Time is still the same)
Keeping all the things I knew inside
It's hard (Hard)
But it's harder to ignore it (Hard)
(To ignore this decision)
If they were right, I'd agree (Gotta go)
But it's them they know not me (Gotta be)
Now there's a way
And I know that I have to go away
I know
I have to go
In the first stanza, the singer is advising his son that it's not the right time to make major life decisions or changes. He urges him to relax and take it easy because he is still young, implying that his youth is the reason for his impulsive nature. The singer acknowledges that there is a lot his son still needs to learn and understand about life.
Moving into the second stanza, the singer encourages his son to find a girl and settle down if he desires to get married. He uses himself as an example, stating that despite being old, he is content with his life. The singer then reflects on his own past, saying that he once faced similar challenges and understands that it's not easy to stay calm or composed when there are things happening around you.
In the third stanza, the singer expresses his frustration in trying to explain something to his son, only to be constantly met with resistance and indifference. He laments that this has been an ongoing pattern, implying a strained relationship between them. The singer reveals that since he was young, he was commanded to listen, but now he has found a path for himself and knows that he must move away, figuratively or literally.
Finally, in the last stanza, the singer repeats the notion that it's not the right time for his son to make a change. He asks his son to sit down and take things slowly, reinforcing that he is still young and has a lot to experience and go through. The singer again mentions finding a girl and settling down and emphasizes his own contentment in his old age. He mentions the times he cried and kept his emotions hidden, acknowledging that it's difficult but even harder to ignore the need for change. He asserts that even if others think differently, it's ultimately his own decision to make, and he must find his own way and go away.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not time to make a change
This is not the right moment to make a major decision or take a different path in life
Just relax
Calm down and don't stress about the future
Take it easy
Don't rush or overthink things, approach life with a laid-back attitude
You're still young
You have plenty of time ahead of you, don't feel pressured by age
That's your fault
It's your responsibility to make the most of your youth and not let it go to waste
There's so much you have to know
There is a lot of knowledge and life experiences for you to gain
Find a girl
Look for a romantic partner
Settle down
Commit and establish a stable life with someone
If you want you can marry
If marriage is something you desire, it is an option for you
Look at me
Take a look at my life as an example
I am old
I have aged and accumulated wisdom
But I'm happy
Despite my age, I find contentment and fulfillment in life
I was once like you are now
I used to be in the same situation and mindset as you are currently
And I know that it's not easy
I understand the challenges and difficulties you may be facing
To be calm
It can be hard to maintain a sense of peace and serenity
When you've found something going on
When you become aware of something happening or changing around you
But take your time
Don't rush into making decisions, give yourself space to think
Think a lot
Engage in deep contemplation and reflection
Why, think of everything you've got
Consider and appreciate all the things you currently possess and value
For you will still be here tomorrow
You will have a future, another day to live and experience
But your dreams may not
Your aspirations and dreams may not persist or become a reality if not nurtured
How can I try to explain?
I struggle to find the words to convey my thoughts and feelings
'Cause when I do he turns away again
Whenever I attempt to communicate, he avoids or ignores me
It's always been the same
This pattern of behavior has persisted over time
Same old story
A recurring narrative or situation that remains unchanged
From the moment I could talk
Since I was able to communicate verbally
I was ordered to listen
I was instructed and commanded to pay attention and obey
Now there's a way
Currently, I have found a solution or path
And I know that I have to go away
I am aware that I must depart or leave
I know
I understand and acknowledge
I have to go
I must depart or move on from this situation
Just sit down
Remain in a seated position
Take it slowly
Proceed at a leisurely pace, without rushing
You're still young (I)
Youthfulness is still with you
That's your fault (Know)
You are responsible for the choices and actions you take
There's so much you have to go through (This decision)
There are numerous experiences and challenges awaiting you, including the decision at hand
Look at me (Look)
Observe and consider my life
I am old (Look)
I have become elderly or aged
But I'm happy
Despite my age, I find contentment and fulfillment in life
All the times that I cried (Time is still the same)
During the moments when I shed tears, time continued to pass without pause
Keeping all the things I knew inside
Suppressing and holding onto the knowledge and wisdom I possessed
It's hard (Hard)
It is challenging and difficult
But it's harder to ignore it (Hard)
However, it is even more challenging to disregard or neglect it
If they were right, I'd agree (Gotta go)
If others were correct in their judgment or opinions, I would concur and act accordingly
But it's them they know not me (Gotta be)
However, they lack understanding of who I truly am
Now there's a way
Currently, I have found a solution or path
And I know that I have to go away
I am aware that I must depart or leave
I know
I understand and acknowledge
I have to go
I must depart or move on from this situation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Yusuf Islam
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Meraai
I used to have this record.