Alone Again
Gilbert O’Sullivan Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

In a little while from now
If I'm not feeling any less sour
I promise myself to treat myself
And visit a nearby tower
And climbing to the top
Will throw myself off
In an effort to
Make it clear to whoever
What it's like when you're shattered

Left standing in the lurch, at a church
Where people saying, "My God, that's tough
She stood him up
No point in us remaining"
"We may as well go home"
As I did on my own
Alone again, naturally

To think that only yesterday
I was cheerful, bright and gay
Looking forward to, but who wouldn't do
The role I was about to play
But as if to knock me down
Reality came around
And without so much as a mere touch
Cut me into little pieces

Leaving me to doubt
Talk about God and His mercy
Oh, if He really does exist
Why did He desert me
In my hour of need?
I truly am indeed
Alone again, naturally

It seems to me that
There are more hearts broken in the world
That can't be mended
Left unattended
What do we do?
What do we do?

Alone again, naturally

Now looking back over the years
And whatever else that appears
I remember I cried when my father died
Never wishing to hide the tears

And at sixty-five years old
My mother, God rest her soul
Couldn't understand why the only man
She had ever loved had been taken
Leaving her to start
With a heart so badly broken
Despite encouragement from me
No words were ever spoken

And when she passed away
I cried and cried all day




Alone again, naturally
Alone again, naturally

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Gilbert O'Sullivan's song "Alone Again, Naturally" tell the story of a person who has been left alone and heartbroken after a series of unfortunate events in their life. The song starts with the person contemplating suicide by throwing themselves off a tower to show the world what it's like to feel shattered. The lyrics then move to describing a wedding where the person has been left alone, and everyone is talking about how tough it must be for them.


The song then takes a turn as the person reflects on their past and how things have led them to this moment. They remember being cheerful and looking forward to the future, but reality hit them hard and left them feeling broken into little pieces. The person then questions why God has deserted them when they needed him the most. The song ends with the realization that there are many broken hearts in the world that can't be mended, leaving the person feeling alone again, naturally.


Overall, "Alone Again, Naturally" is a deeply introspective song that expresses the pain and isolation that can come with loss, heartbreak, and difficult life events.


Line by Line Meaning

In a little while from now
In the near future


If I'm not feeling any less sour
If I'm still feeling upset


I promise myself to treat myself
I promise to be kind to myself


And visit a nearby tower
And go on an adventure


And climbing to the top
And climb to the highest point


Will throw myself off
Will jump off


In an effort to
In order to


Make it clear to whoever
Show everyone


Wants to know what it's like When you're shattered
What it feels like when you're brokenhearted


Left standing in the lurch at a church
Abandoned at the altar


Were people saying, My God, that's tough
Sympathizing


She stood him up
She didn't show up for him


No point in us remaining
No reason for us to stay


We may as well go home
We should just leave


As I did on my own
As I did by myself


Alone again, naturally
Lonely once again


To think that only yesterday
Just the day before


I was cheerful, bright and gay
I was happy and optimistic


Looking forward to who wouldn't do
Excited for what was to come


But as if to knock me down
To make matters worse


Reality came around
The truth struck me


And without so much as a mere touch
Without any warning or explanation


Cut me into little pieces
Broke me into fragments


Leaving me to doubt
Caused me to question everything


Talk about, God in His mercy
Mention divine intervention


Oh, if he really does exist
If there is a God


Why did he desert me
Why did he abandon me


In my hour of need
When I needed help the most


I truly am indeed
I really am


Alone again, naturally
Lonely once again


It seems to me that
I have noticed that


There are more hearts broken in the world
Many people have broken hearts


That can't be mended
That can't be fixed


Left unattended
Left alone


What do we do
What can be done


What do we do
What can be done


Alone again, naturally
Lonely once again


Looking back over the years
Reflecting on the past


And whatever else that appears
And other memories that come up


I remember I cried when my father died
I remember mourning my father's death


Never wishing to hide the tears
Never wanting to conceal my emotions


And at sixty-five years old
And when she was 65 years old


My mother, God rest her soul
My late mother


Couldn't understand why the only man
Could not comprehend why the man


She had ever loved had been taken
She loved so much had died


Leaving her to start
Causing her to begin anew


With a heart so badly broken
With a severely wounded heart


Despite encouragement from me
Even with my support


No words were ever
I never found the right words


And when she passed away
And when she died


I cried and cried all day
I grieved deeply


Alone again, naturally
Lonely once again




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Raymond Edward O'Sullivan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@davidallardyce-ni8jn

I'm a 67 yr old guy..
My twin brother Daniel died at 35...
Our father passed away when
Danny and I were 19.
Gilbert thank you..
Also to
Sir Elton
John who
sang Daniel
Both you
inspire me
to be my best in life..
and treat
people in the world
with kindness
and
Respect..



@FrancisMcAnarney

"Alone Again (Naturally)"
(originally by Gilbert O'Sullivan)

In a little while from now
If I'm not feeling any less sour
I promise myself to treat myself
And visit a nearby tower
And climbing to the top
Will throw myself off
In an effort to
Make it clear to whoever
Wants to know what it's like
When you're shattered
Left standing in the lurch at a church
Were people saying, My God, that's tough
She stood him up
No point in us remaining
We may as well go home
As I did on my own
Alone again, naturally

To think that only yesterday
I was cheerful, bright and gay
Looking forward to who wouldn't do
The role I was about to play
But as if to knock me down
Reality came around
And without so much as a mere touch
Cut me into little pieces
Leaving me to doubt
Talk about, God in His mercy
Oh, if he really does exist
Why did he desert me
In my hour of need
I truly am indeed
Alone again, naturally

It seems to me that there are more hearts
Broken in the world that can't be mended
Left unattended
What do we do
What do we do

[Instrumental Interlude]

Alone again, naturally

Looking back over the years
And whatever else that appears
I remember I cried when my father died
Never wishing to hide the tears
And at sixty-five years old
My mother, God rest her soul
Couldn't understand why the only man
She had ever loved had been taken
Leaving her to start
With a heart so badly broken
Despite encouragement from me
No words were ever [Spoken]
And when she passed away
I cried and cried all day
Alone again, naturally
Alone again, naturally



@kip1475

I'm 14, this is one of my favorite songs. Along with several other songs more falling in to the genre of Swing, Jazz, or Disco.

But I'm still able to enjoy more modern music and some rock, luckily.

(Side Rant)
It's saddening that some people close themselves off to very specific genres and ages of music. I remember how much of a pain it was to get my mother to stop calling me weird for not liking "The Cure" nearly as much as "The Ronettes" or Cole Porter.

I cannot exactly disagree with her on certain modern music-

But I got her to like Billie Eilish, Shakira, and Olivia Rodrigo.



@fernandosampaio6019

In a little while from now
If I'm not feeling any less sour
I promise myself to treat myself
And visit a nearby tower
And climbing to the top
Will throw myself off
In an effort to
Make it clear to whoever
Wants to know what it's like when you're shattered

Left standing in the lurch at a church
Were people saying, My God, that's tough
She stood him up
No point in us remaining
We may as well go home
As I did on my own
Alone again, naturally

To think that only yesterday
I was cheerful, bright and gay
Looking forward to who wouldn't do
The role I was about to play
But as if to knock me down
Reality came around
And without so much as a mere touch
Cut me into little pieces

Leaving me to doubt
Talk about, God in His mercy
Oh, if he really does exist
Why did he desert me
In my hour of need
I truly am indeed
Alone again, naturally

It seems to me that
There are more hearts broken in the world
That can't be mended
Left unattended
What do we do
What do we do

Alone again, naturally

Looking back over the years
And whatever else that appears
I remember I cried when my father died
Never wishing to hide the tears
And at sixty-five years old
My mother, God rest her soul
Couldn't understand why the only man
She had ever loved had been taken
Leaving her to start
With a heart so badly broken
Despite encouragement from me
No words were ever spoken
And when she passed away
I cried and cried all day
Alone again, naturally
Alone again, naturally



@n.ashworthdean6953

In a little while from now
If I'm not feeling any less sour
I promise myself to treat myself
And visit a nearby tower
And climbing to the top
Will throw myself off
In an effort to
Make it clear to whoever
Wants to know what it's like when you're shattered

Left standing in the lurch at a church
Were people saying, My God, that's tough
She stood him up
No point in us remaining
We may as well go home
As I did on my own
Alone again, naturally

To think that only yesterday
I was cheerful, bright and gay
Looking forward to who wouldn't do
The role I was about to play
But as if to knock me down
Reality came around
And without so much as a mere touch
Cut me into little pieces

Leaving me to doubt
Talk about, God in His mercy
Oh, if he really does exist
Why did he desert me
In my hour of need
I truly am indeed
Alone again, naturally

It seems to me that
There are more hearts broken in the world
That can't be mended
Left unattended
What do we do
What do we do

Alone again, naturally

Looking back over the years
And whatever else that appears
I remember I cried when my father died
Never wishing to hide the tears
And at sixty-five years old
My mother, God rest her soul
Couldn't understand why the only man
She had ever loved had been taken
Leaving her to start
With a heart so badly broken
Despite encouragement from me
No words were ever spoken
And when she passed away
I cried and cried all day
Alone again, naturally
Alone again, naturally



All comments from YouTube:

@markmarkyyy5632

Was 13 yrs. old in '71 when this song came out.... Didn't realize I'd be 65 and alone as I am today. Sad that my happiest years 60's-70's are gone..... but BLESSED to have grown up in that era and hearing songs like this as they were being played on the radio....

@archangelslayer529

well you are not alone someone care for you...

@jorgesalro

me too

@yolandanb-a4840

I was two years, but I discovered him when I was 10 and I loved him

@abe0705

Wish you happiness❤

@philippaperinski1428

I hear you! In the same boat.. How lucky we were though

40 More Replies...

@yza7479

Virtual hugs to everyone here that has a void in their heart right now. I hope life would be better for all of you :)

@crlpxz

@shelleykrier7417

Thank you. The world seems to be letting us down but not so. God is with each and everyone of us.

@pattiharkness1704

Too much sadness. Haunting lyrics of a song that touched my ♥️at a very early age. A no d then my dad died leaving my 65 year old mom to get through her 9 tensing years. 😥

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