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.
Justanothersadsong
Alan Hull Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You thought that the freedom you need could be found on the ground
Of a lonely avenue
No one could give it to you
No one could get it right through
Now what will you do.
When there is nobody here and there's nobody near
Just a dark night and the empty moonlight
Doesn't mean a single thing to you
Now you're really feeling sad
Your stomach's really feeling bad
You think you're maybe going mad.
But it's just another case of human misunderstanding
It's just another sad song.
Where did she go ? The one that could hold you together and the one That you'd never tell a lie to her face
Could she be lost in the cost of another embrace
From a different kind of place
Gone and never left a trace
With a tear on her face
A sad tear on her face.
But it's just another case of human misunderstanding
It's just another sad song.
It's just another case of human misunderstanding
It's just another sad song.
Just another sad song.
The lyrics of Alan Hull's song "Justanothersadsong" revolves around a feeling of disappointment and misunderstanding that is common in human relationships. The singer is seen walking down dark, dusty lanes that all look the same. He or she has been searching for a sense of freedom that cannot be provided by anyone else, but still feels the need for companionship. The night is dark, and the moon is empty, leading the singer to feel alone and sad. His/her stomach is upset, and he/she thinks they are going mad. These lines indicate a feeling of despair and disillusionment that is quite common when one feels isolated and without support.
The song then switches to the singer's search for a loved one who has disappeared. The singer references the loved one being lost in the cost of another embrace, or from a different kind of place, which could mean that the loved one has moved on or found someone else. The singer is sad and upset, with a tear on her face, and he/she feels alone and misunderstood yet again. The song is an expression of the human condition where people often feel isolated and misunderstood, despite their best efforts to connect with others.
Line by Line Meaning
And there you go, heading down dark dusty lanes that all look the same
You're aimlessly wandering down paths that offer no hope of direction or clarity.
You thought that the freedom you need could be found on the ground
You believed that liberty could come in the form of a solitary journey.
No one could give it to you
No one else can give you the freedom you seek.
No one could get it right through
Freedom cannot be handed to you; it must be discovered by oneself.
Now what will you do.
You must figure out how to find the freedom you crave.
When there is nobody here and there's nobody near
When you are alone with your thoughts and there is no one to confide in.
Just a dark night and the empty moonlight
The darkness of the night and the absence of light fail to offer solace.
Doesn't mean a single thing to you
The significance of your surroundings is lost on you.
Now you're really feeling sad
You feel an overwhelming sense of sadness.
Your stomach's really feeling bad
You are physically ill from the angst and distress you feel.
You think you're maybe going mad.
You worry that your mental state is deteriorating.
Where did she go? The one that could hold you together and the one That you'd never tell a lie to her face
You miss the person who provided emotional support and with whom you shared an unbreakable bond.
Could she be lost in the cost of another embrace
Perhaps she found someone else and is lost in the happiness and security of a new relationship.
From a different kind of place Gone and never left a trace With a tear on her face A sad tear on her face.
She left without a trace, and there is no closure. She left with a broken heart and tears in her eyes.
But it's just another case of human misunderstanding It's just another sad song.
The pain and confusion you're experiencing are just another example of the tragedy and heartache that can stem from human interactions.
It's just another case of human misunderstanding It's just another sad song.
The struggles and problems you face are common and relatable experiences that have been captured in countless songs before.
Just another sad song.
Ultimately, your sadness and turmoil are nothing new; they are just another sad story that has been told before and will be told again.
Contributed by Riley O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.