In 1957 while still in high school, Tillotson was making records and performing on stage; as a student at the University of Florida, he had his own musical variety show on regional television. Following graduation in 1959 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Communications, he signed with Cadence Records and moved to New York City to pursue his music career. In 1960, he recorded his first hit, a composition entitled "Poetry in Motion" (written by Anthony/Kaufman), that went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and #1 on the UK Singles Chart.
A "crossover" artist, several of Tillotson's songs were successful on both the country music charts and pop charts. He earned a Grammy Award nomination for another of his own compositions, "It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin," and also for the song "Heartaches by the Number," nominated for Best Vocal Performance of 1965. He also appeared in the 1963 film "Just for Fun" and sang the theme song for the 1965 Sally Field television comedy "Gidget".
In a career spanning more than 40 years, Tillotson has recorded 26 singles that made it onto Billboard's charts, and performed at venues across the United States and other places around the globe.
He was featured in the 1966 camp comedy The Fat Spy starring Jayne Mansfield, Jack E. Leonard, Phyllis Diller, Brian Donlevy and Jordan Christopher & the Wild Ones. This film was featured in the 2004 documentary The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made (#46).
All Alone Am I
Johnny Tillotson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All alone with just a beat of my heart
People all around but I don't hear a sound
Just the lonely beating of my heart
No use in holding other hands for I'd be holding only emptiness
No use in kissing other lips for I'd be thinking just of your cares
No other voice can say the words my heart must hear to ever sing again
The words you used to whisper low no other love can ever bring again
All alone am I ever since your goodbye...
The lyrics to Johnny Tillotson's song, "All Alone Am I", expresses the feeling of utter loneliness after a breakup. The first line of the lyrics, "All alone am I ever since your goodbye" sets the tone of the entire song. It means that the singer feels alone and empty since their loved one left. The second line, "All alone with just a beat of my heart" emphasizes the loneliness that the singer feels. They may be surrounded by people, but they are not able to feel their presence as the only thing they hear is the sound of their beating heart.
The third line, "People all around but I don't hear a sound," adds to the feelings of isolation and detachment. It suggests that the singer has no one to talk to and feels disconnected from the people around them. Without their loved one, all sound is drowned out by the sound of their lonely heart.
The fourth line, "Just the lonely beating of my heart", is a poignant statement about the profound loneliness that the singer is feeling. The final two stanzas suggest that no one can replace their former love and the perfect relationship they shared. The lines "No use in holding other hands" and "no other voice can say the words my heart must hear" reinforce the fact that nothing can replace the singer's lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
All alone am I ever since your goodbye
I am all by myself since you said goodbye to me.
All alone with just a beat of my heart
I am completely alone, and the only thing I hear is my heart beating.
People all around but I don't hear a sound
There are people nearby, but I can't hear any of the sounds they make.
Just the lonely beating of my heart
The only sound I hear is the lonely beating of my heart.
No use in holding other hands for I'd be holding only emptiness
It is not worth holding someone else's hand because I will only feel emptiness.
No use in kissing other lips for I'd be thinking just of your cares
It is pointless to kiss someone else's lips because I will only be thinking about your worries.
No other voice can say the words my heart must hear to ever sing again
No other voice can say the right things to my heart so that I can feel happy again.
The words you used to whisper low no other love can ever bring again
The words you whispered to me softly can never be replicated by anyone else.
All alone am I ever since your goodbye...
I am all by myself since you said goodbye to me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MANOS HADJIDAKIS, ARTHUR ALTMAN, IOANNIS IOANNIDIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@miltonmoore7898
If Johnny Tillotson had not come along
and covered this song, the
original version
by Brenda Lee
would be my favorite. I think
this is the only
song Tillotson
ever recorded that called for
a line to be spoken, other
than TRUE, TRUE HAPPINESS. His speaking voice in ALL ALONE AM I is
nonpariel for
soothing romantic sincerity and sensitively.
@duniasalazararaya4303
Simplemente precioso, tengo 68 años y esto me rompe el corazon
@duniasalazararaya4303
Mi corazón sangra cada vez que oigo esta melodia
@miltonmoore8369
He NEVER recorded a song more beautifully than this one. Absolutely chilling.
@Aranjuez44
Ahhh, the good old days! When lovely music like this was MUSIC!!
@frankguipal1994
Yes Johnny T" did it...
He was love by a Million
Viewers all over the
World..fm jay pilipinas
@larkpraise
Absolutely excellent and superior in every way!
@ruthboykin9873
I have always loved this song by Johnny Tillotson. Thanks for having it here Tom!
@TomElvisSmith
You're welcome, Ruth!
@tonosanchez4488
me encantan esa musica ,de los 50 y 60 a pesar que no viví esa época ,pero mi papa la escucha hasta ahora crecí con esa musica
@GM8101PHX
I witnessed a couple dancing on roller skates to this song, they made it seem so easy, they were one on the floor and you could tell they were a couple away from dancing. He was very hansom, she was stunningly beautiful! They danced flawlessly!