Although a vein of social and political humor runs though even his earliest work, Bern's work became more explicitly political during the 2004 US presidential election campaign, with songs such as "Bush Must Be Defeated" and "President" highlighting his sometimes surreal political takes.
Bern is reflexively literate, in the style of his favorite authors, including L.A.'s legendary bohemians Charles Bukowski and John Fante, urbane fantasist James Thurber, and yarn-spinning humorist Ring Lardner. He is in love with the power of words to turn on themselves, to frolic, to bite, and his strong, friendly voice can go from earnest to ferocious within seconds. Being captivated by Dan is the easy part; describing his music to the non-initiated is more difficult. One journalist tried: "topical-poetical-sarcastic-punk-folk." An admirable effort, further elaborated by the New York Times: "He veers from comedy to anger, conjectures to shaggy-dog stories; he takes sidelong approaches to theology, science fiction, consumer culture, art, love and baseball."
Alia
Dan Bern Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Alia went to India
This time I was not the one that left
When things got good
Alia
Alia
I'll remember you
It was always me the one
That left before the setting sun
Now you're gone half way around the world
I don't think turnabout is fair play
Alia
Alia
I remember you
Will you remember me?
Now I know what it's like
When they're just beyond your reach
You did not look back when we said farewell
I wanted to run to you so much
I've been through this country through and through
But I've never been to India
I guess that's maybe why you had to run off
To your old India
Alia
Alia
I'll remember you
Will you remember me?
The lyrics to Dan Bern's song "Alia" express a sense of longing and loss after someone close leaves for India. The first verse says "Just when we got comfortable Alia went to India, this time I was not the one that left when things got good." This implies a sense of surprise and sadness at Alia's departure, especially since the singer was not the one leaving this time. The chorus repeats "Alia, Alia, I'll remember you, will you remember me?" suggesting a sort of wistful hope that the memories and friendship they shared will not be forgotten despite the distance between them.
In the second verse, the singer acknowledges their own history of leaving before the sun sets, but feels that Alia's departure is not fair since it was another person leaving this time. They continue to cling to memories, repeating the chorus and admitting that they now know what it feels like to want to be near someone who is far away.
The last verse provides a little more explanation for their separation, with the singer noting that they've never been to India, unlike Alia. This indicates that their paths may have diverged, with Alia needing to return to her old home and the singer staying behind. The final chorus is once again a plea for remembrance and connection despite the physical distance between them.
Overall, "Alia" is an emotional song that captures the feeling of missing someone who has left for a faraway place. The lyrics express a sense of wonder at the world and its vastness, but also a sense of loss when someone we care about is suddenly out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
Just when we got comfortable
We were feeling at ease and settled when something suddenly happened
Alia went to India
Alia left and went to India
This time I was not the one that left
In this situation, I was not the one who departed
When things got good
At a time when everything seemed to be going well
Alia, Alia, I'll remember you, Will you remember me?
A repeated chorus about remembering Alia and hoping she remembers the singer as well
It was always me the one That left before the setting sun
The singer is usually the one who leaves, often at the end of the day
Now you're gone half way around the world
Alia is now far away, on the other side of the globe
I don't think turnabout is fair play
The singer doesn't think it's fair for Alia to leave when he usually does the leaving
Now I know what it's like When they're just beyond your reach
The singer now understands what it feels like when someone is far away and unreachable
You did not look back when we said farewell
Alia didn't look back when they said goodbye
I wanted to run to you so much
The singer wanted to go to Alia but couldn't
I've been through this country through and through
The singer has traveled extensively in their own country
But I've never been to India
The singer has never been to India before
I guess that's maybe why you had to run off to your old India
The singer thinks that Alia left for India because he had never been there before
Contributed by Gabriella S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.