Born James Alan Hull in Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne on 20th February1945, he became a member of the band The Chosen Few alongside keyboard player Mick Gallagher in 1962. He supported himself one year by working as a nurse at a mental hospital while appearing as a folk singer and guitarist in local clubs before helping to form Brethren and Downtown Faction, which evolved into Lindisfarne in 1970. He also released a one-off solo single, "We Can Swing Together", which was re-recorded with the group on their first album, Nicely Out of Tune, and became a regular favourite in their stage performances.
As the group's most prolific songwriter and joint lead vocalist, Hull came to be regarded as its leader. In 1972, dissatisfied with the sound and critical reception of their third album Dingly Dell, he considered leaving the group, but instead he and joint lead vocalist Ray "Jacka" Jackson formed a new six-piece Lindisfarne the following year, leaving the three other original members to form Jack the Lad. He also released a first solo album, Pipedream, in the same year, and published a book of poems, Mocking Horse.
Lindisfarne disbanded in 1975, and Hull released a second solo album, Squire, then formed the short-lived Radiator, which also included drummer Ray Laidlaw of Lindisfarne and Jack the Lad. At the end of 1977 the original line-up of Lindisfarne reformed after a well-received Christmas show at the Newcastle City Hall which was broadcast on local radio. Thereafter he combined his musical career as front man of the group with a solo career. He was also a staunch Labour Party activist.
In 1994, he recorded Back to Basics, a live all-acoustic survey of the best of his songwriting from 1970 onwards. On 17th November 1995 whilst working on a new album, Statues & Liberties, Hull died suddenly of a heart thrombosis, at the age of fifty.
January Song
Alan Hull Lyrics
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I'm feeling rather sorry for a man I know
The world he holds in trembling hands is asking where to go
And as he stares out at me from the mirrored wall
I see that he is trying to cry but the tears they will not fall.
His life is passing by behind his tired eyes
Useless is the question, things concerning the past
It seems so very obvious that nothing at all can last
And just as sure as tomorrow will soon be yesterday
The love you thought you occupied will surely drift away.
I need you to help me carry on
You need me, need you, need him, need everyone.
And love is such a small word for something that is so vast
But in it lies, the future, the present and the past
And speaking now of changes, I sometimes feel the fear
That the reason for the meaning will even disappear.
I need you to help me carry on
You need me, need you, need him, need everyone
You need me, need you, need him, need everyone
You need me, need you, need him, need everyone
You need me, need you, need him, need everyone
...
The song "January Song" by Alan Hull is a melancholic and reflective piece that touches upon the themes of loneliness, the impermanence of life and the power of love. The first stanza talks about a man who is lost and unsure, holding the world in trembling hands, unsure of where to go. The second stanza speaks about the futility of asking questions about the past, as nothing lasts forever, and just as sure as tomorrow will soon be yesterday, things change, love fades away. The chorus is a plea for help, a realization that we need each other to carry on, that love is a small word for something vast that holds the past, the present and the future. The closing line reinforces Hull's fear that the meaning of love may disappear, as things change and we fear uncertainty.
The lyrics of "January Song" are powerful and insightful. They convey a melancholic and reflective mood that is relatable and timeless. The song touches upon the themes of love, loneliness, and the impermanence of life, reminding us that we need each other to carry on, that we are not alone in this journey.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm feeling rather sorry for a man I know
I empathize with a man as he struggles to find direction in life
The world he holds in trembling hands is asking where to go
The man is overwhelmed by the weight and responsibility of the choices he must make
And as he stares out at me from the mirrored wall
The man is self-reflecting, searching for answers within himself
I see that he is trying to cry but the tears they will not fall
The man is emotionally drained and unable to express his feelings
His life is passing by behind his tired eyes
The man is experiencing the passage of time but feels as though he is stagnant
Like the colours in a January sky
Like the bleak, monochromatic sky of winter, the man's life lacks vibrancy and color
Useless is the question, things concerning the past
Reflecting on past mistakes and decisions is futile and unproductive
It seems so very obvious that nothing at all can last
The fleeting nature of life and its experiences is painfully clear
And just as sure as tomorrow will soon be yesterday
Time moves forward relentlessly and there is no stopping its passage
The love you thought you occupied will surely drift away
Even the most cherished relationships can dissolve or fade over time
And love is such a small word for something that is so vast
The concept of love is immense and complex, difficult to capture in a single word
But in it lies, the future, the present and the past
Love encompasses all aspects of time and unites them into a single force
And speaking now of changes, I sometimes feel the fear
Change can be unsettling and evoke feelings of fear and uncertainty
That the reason for the meaning will even disappear
It is possible that the reason or purpose for one's existence may never be fully understood or realized
I need you to help me carry on
We rely on the support and connection of others in order to persevere
You need me, need you, need him, need everyone.
We are all interconnected and require each other in order to navigate through life
Contributed by Olivia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.