O'Day continued to write and record. His album "I HEAR VOICES" is available through his website, CD Baby, and iTunes.
O'Day died on May 17, 2013 after battling brain cancer for six months.
www.alanoday.com
Catch My Breath
Alan O'Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I scares me half to death
That she might love me
I′ve always be afraid
When someone felt that way
I'd start to fade
I told her not to stay and yet
And if I sent her home
We'd just be on the phone
I've always played to win
My game has always been
Be good at making love
But don′t be in it to fall is suicide
I′ve got to keep my pride
I know it's safe to hide
But wait a minute
Cause when we′re making love
I sometimes even say the words I love you
It scares me half to death
I have to catch my breath
Catch my breath.
The lyrics to Alan O'Day's song "Catch My Breath" explore the fear and vulnerability that come with falling in love. The singer admits to always being afraid when someone starts to develop strong feelings for them, fearing that they will begin to fade away and lose themselves in the relationship. They express their struggle to balance their desire for emotional connection with their need to protect their pride and avoid the potential pain of falling in love.
The singer shares their conflicting emotions, acknowledging that while they told the person not to stay, they secretly enjoy hearing them say "Good morning," indicating a growing attachment. The fear of becoming too involved is evident as they mention that if they were to send the person home, they would still find themselves wanting to be on the phone with them. This suggests a fear of intimacy and a reluctance to fully commit to a relationship.
Throughout the song, the singer admits to their tendency to play it safe when it comes to love, always striving to be skilled in physical intimacy but cautious about getting emotionally entangled. They view falling in love as a form of self-destructive behavior or a threat to their pride. However, in moments of vulnerability and intense connection during intimacy, they find themselves saying the words "I love you," which both scares and exhilarates them, causing them to catch their breath.
The song resonates with the complexities and fears that can arise when navigating romantic relationships. It delves into the struggle between the desire for love and the fear of losing oneself in the process, showcasing the internal conflict and vulnerability experienced by the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
I have to catch my breath
I need to pause and regain composure
It scares me half to death
It terrifies me completely
That she might love me
The possibility of her loving me
I've always be afraid
I have constantly been fearful
When someone felt that way
If someone had similar feelings
I'd start to fade
I would begin to lose myself
I told her not to stay and yet
I advised her to leave, but
It′s nice to hear her say "Good morning"
It is pleasant to hear her greet me
And if I sent her home
If I made her leave
We'd just be on the phone
We would continue conversing through calls
I've always played to win
I have always aimed for victory
My game has always been
My approach has always been
Be good at making love
To excel in the act of lovemaking
But don′t be in it to fall is suicide
However, becoming emotionally invested is dangerous
I′ve got to keep my pride
I must maintain my sense of self-worth
I know it's safe to hide
I understand that it is secure to conceal my emotions
But wait a minute
However, hold on
Cause when we′re making love
Because when we engage in intimacy
I sometimes even say the words I love you
Occasionally, I express affection by saying 'I love you'
It scares me half to death
It frightens me to a great extent
I have to catch my breath
I need to pause and regain composure
Catch my breath
Regain composure
Writer(s): Alan O'day, Dale Alan Leitch, Alan Passmore, Brian Jutz
Contributed by Benjamin I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tasty Pies
Classic 70s! Sadly, both Alan and Helen are gone. Their excellent music lives on.
Peter D.
OMG! His version is so much darker! Never heard this version 😮 Special Thank You for this deep cut. I’m so shook by this especially since HE wrote it!
Wil Adams
I have always preferred Alan's version of this song because having a man sing it gives it a more eerie tone. Alan's voice and the turn of phrase is spot on for this song. It should have been released as a single for him.
Peter D.
I agree!
suprememusicmaster1975
If you want to honor Helen Reddy some more, Justin, share some of her yacht-rock sounding tunes from "Imagination"...Songs like "Handsome Dudes" (later covered by Thelma Houston), "Let's Go Up" (also recorded by Diana Ross and later, Dennis Edwards and Thierry Condor), "Looks Like Love", "The Way I Feel" (also recorded by Patti Austin earlier) and "Yesterday Can't Hurt Me" (also recorded by both Flower and Don Brown and first by Evie Sands)..."Trying To Get To You" and "The Magic Is Still There" from her 1979 LP, "Reddy", are good, too! She also recorded Michael McDonald's "Minute By Minute", as well! And then, there are tunes like "The Stars Fell On California" and "I Don't Know Why (I Love That Guy)" from "Play Me Out"...And of course, "Take What You Find" should have been a hit! Lots of smooth tunes to work with! And remember, in these pandemic times, we need more smooth tunes, not less!
DaFunkBackToDaPunk
Underrated comment
franck mellow vinyle
👍👍👍😉
Sid Mani
Helen Reddy's Version was great too
Kevin Macdonald
I actually think Helen's version was a lot better
Henry Bandola
This is American West Coast City Pop