The single spent six non-consecutive weeks at number one on Billboard's Hot 100 between late July and early September 1972 in America. It ranked number two in the year-end chart (behind Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face") and sold more than two million copies.
The song was involved in a 1991 court case which held that sampling of music can constitute copyright infringement.
Alone Again
Gilbert O'Sullivan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The Gilbert O'Sullivan's song "Alone Again (Naturally)" is a lament about the hardships of life, love, and loss. The song talks about feelings of isolation, abandonment, and disillusionment. The opening verse details the singer's suicidal thoughts, promising to "throw myself off" a nearby tower if he doesn't start feeling better soon. He feels shattered, emotionally and mentally, and can't seem to find a way out of his despair.
In the second verse, the singer reflects on a recent loss, where he was left standing alone at a church, abandoned by the woman he had hoped to marry. Others around him suggest they should all leave together, but he chooses to stay on his own. The chorus repeats, "Alone again, naturally," emphasizing the isolation and loneliness he feels.
The final verse reflects on the singer's past losses, the death of his father and, later, his mother's passing. Despite trying to offer comfort to his mother, he was unable to articulate his grief, and she had to start over with a broken heart.
Overall, the song narrates a story of despair, sadness, and grief. It is a melancholic reflection on the human experience and how the tragedies of life can leave us feeling isolated and alone.
Line by Line Meaning
In a little while from now
In a short time from now
If I'm not feeling any less sour
If I do not feel any better emotionally
I promise myself to treat myself
I am determined to do something good for myself
And visit a nearby tower
And go to a tower near me
And climbing to the top
And when I reach the top
Will throw myself off
I will jump off
In an effort to
To try and
Make it clear to whoever
Show someone
What it's like when you're shattered
What it feels like when you are completely broken
Left standing in the lurch, at a church
Abandoned at church without any support
Where people saying, "My God, that's tough
With people commenting on how difficult it must be
She stood him up
She did not show up for the date
No point in us remaining"
We might as well leave
"We may as well go home"
We should head back home
As I did on my own
Just like I did alone
Alone again, naturally
I am alone once again
To think that only yesterday
It seems like only yesterday
I was cheerful, bright and gay
When I was happy and carefree
Looking forward to, but who wouldn't do
Anticipating something exciting
The role I was about to play
The part I was going to act out
But as if to knock me down
But then, to bring me down
Reality came around
The harsh truth presented itself
And without so much as a mere touch
And without warning
Cut me into little pieces
Broke me into little bits
Leaving me to doubt
Making me unsure of everything
Talk about God and His mercy
Discussions about faith and divine help
Oh, if He really does exist
If God really exists
Why did He desert me
Why did He abandon me
In my hour of need?
When I needed Him most
I truly am indeed
In reality, I really am
Alone again, naturally
Alone once more, as usual
It seems to me that
I believe
There are more hearts broken in the world
There are more people with broken hearts globally
That can't be mended
That cannot be fixed
Left unattended
Left alone without anyone taking care of them
What do we do?
What should we do?
Alone again, naturally
Once more, all by myself
Now looking back over the years
When I reflect on my past
And whatever else that appears
And anything else that comes to mind
I remember I cried when my father died
I recall shedding tears when my father passed away
Never wishing to hide the tears
Without wanting to conceal my sadness
And at sixty-five years old
And at the age of sixty-five
My mother, God rest her soul
My mother, who is now at peace
Couldn't understand why the only man
Could not comprehend why the only person
She had ever loved had been taken
She has ever loved was taken away
Leaving her to start
Which caused her to have to begin
With a heart so badly broken
With a heart that was shattered
Despite encouragement from me
In spite of my efforts to comfort her
No words were ever spoken
She did not say a word
And when she passed away
And when she died
I cried and cried all day
I wept for an entire day
Alone again, naturally
Once again, I was alone
Alone again, naturally
Alone once again, as usual
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Raymond Edward O'Sullivan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@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
@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
@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. 😥