Born and raised in Glasgow with his signature falsetto singing style, he happens to also be a left-wing human rights activist.
He went solo when the Communards split up in 1988.
Alright
Jimmy Somerville Lyrics
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But he looked like a porno star;
Some kind of Adonis.
And by my side I saw the angel sigh.
As the devil won me over, I knew
It was gonna be a wild night.
Gonna be a wild night.
He would make me feel alright.
It was only the drugs and an altered mind.
I gave myself to the pain.
It gave him pleasure,
Oh, it gave him a pleasure.
He made me feel alright.
He made me feel alright;
Took me to paradise.
Made me feel alright;
The man made me alright.
Made me feel alright.
We were riding high to another plane.
My eyes were closed,
But my mind was open to persuasion;
Oh, such persuasion.
The blood had dried by the morning light.
I was coming down, but, hell,
We had such a wild night.
Oh, we had such a wild night.
He made me feel alright;
Made me feel alright.
You make me feel...
The lyrics of Jimmy Somerville's "Alright" revolve around the experiences of the singer on a night of wild abandon, where their judgment was clouded by alcohol and drugs, and they gave in to temptation. The first verse describes the physical attraction the singer feels towards someone who resembles a "porno star" and an "Adonis." Despite this, they also see an angel by their side, suggesting both good and bad influences are present. The devil ultimately wins them over, and they anticipate a wild night.
The second verse paints a darker picture, as the singer gives in to the pain that the drugs bring, which somehow pleases the person they are with. They claim that this experience makes them feel alright, and they are carried away to a different reality. The chorus repeats the phrase "made me feel alright" as if in search of affirmation that their actions were justified. The final lines refer to the aftermath of the night of debauchery, where the singer acknowledges that the events that unfolded were not entirely righteous, but declares that it was still "such a wild night."
Line by Line Meaning
It was only the lights and the alcohol,
The influence of alcohol and the flashy lights made him appear like a great-looking star from a pornographic movie.
But he looked like a porno star;
He looked captivating as a result of the consumption of alcohol and the lights.
Some kind of Adonis.
He appeared to be a Greek god of male sexual allure.
And by my side I saw the angel sigh.
Despite my realization of my possible wrongdoing by engaging in a wild night, my ever-present inner-sense of morality reprimanded me for my actions.
As the devil won me over, I knew
In the moment of decision, the attraction of immoral deeds overpowered the sense of conscience.
It was gonna be a wild night.
The night was going to be characterized by wild behavior and enjoyment of passionate activities.
Gonna be a wild night.
The likelihood of having an enjoyable, eventful, and passionate night was highly probable.
He would make me feel alright.
He would cause me to experience pleasure and satisfaction in the activities we would engage in.
It was only the drugs and an altered mind.
The mind-altering effects of the drugs were the cause of the changed behavior and attitude towards the situation.
I gave myself to the pain.
I willingly subjected myself to the pain and pleasures experienced during that night.
It gave him pleasure,
The pain inflicted upon me gave him sexual pleasure and satisfaction.
Oh, it gave him a pleasure.
The sexual satisfaction derived from inflicting pain upon me was deeply enjoyed.
He made me feel alright.
His actions caused me to experience pleasure and satisfaction despite the moral implications.
Took me to paradise.
The euphoric and orgasmic pleasure was ecstatic, and it felt like an otherworldly experience.
The man made me alright.
His masculine and sexual prowess caused me to experience pleasure and satisfaction, despite the moral implications.
We were riding high to another plane.
The pleasurable activities and sensations experienced were surreal and felt like a trance from this world.
My eyes were closed,
The pleasure was so intense that I had to close my eyes to savor it fully.
But my mind was open to persuasion;
My mind was receptive to the sexual advances and activities taking place.
Oh, such persuasion.
The sexual persuasion achieved its desired effect on me and resulted in pleasure and satisfaction.
The blood had dried by the morning light.
The bloody and violent activities of the night, if any, had subsided by morning.
I was coming down, but, hell,
The mind-altering effects of the drugs were wearing off, but the memories of the pleasurable experience lived on.
We had such a wild night.
The night was characterized by wild and exciting events that were pleasurable and satisfying despite the moral implications.
He made me feel alright;
He caused me to experience pleasure and satisfaction despite the moral implications.
You make me feel...
Addressing the person who caused the pleasurable and sexually satisfying events actions during the night.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GARY BUTCHER, JAMES SOMERVILLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lance Desker
Really underrated, but the subject matter is why it's never played.