Alone
Basil Rathbone Lyrics

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From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were—I have not seen
As others saw—I could not bring
My passions from a common spring—
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow—I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone—
And all I loved—I loved alone—

Then—in my childhood—in the dawn
Of a most stormy life—was drawn
From ev'ry depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still—
From the torrent, or the fountain—
From the red cliff of the mountain—
From the sun that 'round me roll'd
In its autumn tint of gold—
From the lightning in the sky
As it pass'd me flying by—
From the thunder, and the storm—
And the cloud that took the form

(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view—

Overall Meaning

The above lyrics are from Edgar Allan Poe's poem "Alone", which has been adapted into a song by actor Basil Rathbone. The lyrics convey the idea of being different from others and experiencing emotions in a unique and individual way. The singer highlights how they are not able to experience the same emotions and feelings as others, which leads to a sense of isolation and loneliness. The singer mentions that even in their childhood, they were unable to feel a connection with others as they were drawn towards the depths of good and evil that created the mystery that still binds them. The use of natural imagery such as the mountains and the lightning adds to the overall feeling of melancholy and despair.

There is a sense of longing and searching in these lyrics. The singer seems to be searching for something that will allow them to feel a connection with others. It could be interpreted that the singer has an artistic temperament and feels things more deeply than others. The use of the natural world as a metaphor for their feelings could also suggest a connection between nature and the human soul. Ultimately, the lyrics convey the feeling of being alone and isolated, even in a world full of people.

Line by Line Meaning

From childhood's hour I have not been
Since I was a child, I have always felt different

As others were—I have not seen
I didn't view and experience the world the same as others

As others saw—I could not bring
I couldn't share the same emotions or thoughts as others

My passions from a common spring—
I couldn't draw inspiration from the same sources as others

From the same source I have not taken
I couldn't find solace in the same things as others

My sorrow—I could not awaken
I couldn't express my sadness the same as others

My heart to joy at the same tone—
I couldn't feel happiness in the same way as others

And all I loved—I loved alone—
I often found myself loving things or people that others didn't or couldn't understand

Then—in my childhood—in the dawn
During my early years, when everything was new and uncertain

Of a most stormy life—was drawn
My life has been full of ups and downs

From ev'ry depth of good and ill
I drew from both good and bad experiences

The mystery which binds me still—
I am still affected by the things I experienced in my past

From the torrent, or the fountain—
I drew inspiration from both chaotic and peaceful places

From the red cliff of the mountain—
I found beauty in landscapes that others may not appreciate

From the sun that 'round me roll'd
I found inspiration in the natural world around me

In its autumn tint of gold—
Even in things that are dying or fading away, I found beauty or inspiration

From the lightning in the sky
I was inspired by the power and unpredictability of nature

As it pass'd me flying by—
I was in awe of things that were fleeting or temporary

From the thunder, and the storm—
I was drawn to loud and powerful things

And the cloud that took the form
Even in things that others may see as negative or scary, I found inspiration

(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Even in times when things seemed happy or normal to others, I found inspiration elsewhere

Of a demon in my view—
I even found inspiration in dark or negative things

Writer(s): Eric E Whitacre, Edgar Allan Poe

Contributed by Elena T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Juliana Bastos

3y↑7

From childhood’s hour I have not been
As others were—I have not seen
As others saw—I could not bring
My passions from a common spring—
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow—I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone—
And all I lov’d—I lov’d alone—
Then—in my childhood—in the dawn
Of a most stormy life—was drawn
From ev’ry depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still—
From the torrent, or the fountain—
From the red cliff of the mountain—
From the sun that ’round me roll’d
In its autumn tint of gold—
From the lightning in the sky
As it pass’d me flying by—
From the thunder, and the storm—
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view—

All comments from YouTube:

Juliana Bastos

3y↑7

Christopher MacIntyre

3y↑2

thanks for supplying the text for the poem... it will come in handy for the viewers

Bea Sheerhan

5y↑7

In this case music weakens the effect of this incredible voice - moreover, I don't think this particular prelude by Chopin has the character of this rhetoric. Still, this is an enjoyable video production. Thank you!