Scared To Be Alone
Previn Dory Lyrics


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We never stop to wonder
Till a person's gone
We never yearn
To know him
Till he's traveled on
When someone is around us
We never stop to ask
Hey, what's behind your mirror
Hey, who's beneath your mask
We never stop to wonder
Till a person's gone
We never yearn
To know him
Till he's packed
And traveled on

Sweet Marilyn Monroe
On the silver screen
Platinum reflection
In a movie magazine
Well, did you ever
Have a headache
Did your mama own a gramaphone
Did you like to be an actress
Were you scared
To be alone

We never stop to wonder
Till a person's gone
We never yearn
To know him
Till he's traveled on
When someone is around us
We don't know what we're seeing
We take a Polaroid picture
To find the human being
We never stop to wonder
Till a person's gone
We never yearn
To know him
Till he's packed
And traveled on

Sweet beautiful Jesus
On a painted cross
Polystyrene body
With a superficial gloss
Hey, were you
Jealous of your father
Were you short
When you were fully grown
Did you like to walk on water
Were you scared
To be alone

I think perhaps tomorrow
I'll try to make a friend
To really get
To know him
Instead of pretend
I'll ask him if his feet hurt
Has he burdens to be shared
And if he doesn't walk away
I'll ask him
If he's scared
And if he doesn't walk away
If his eyes don't
Turn to stone
I'll ask him




If he's scared
To be alone

Overall Meaning

The song "Scared to be Alone" by Previn Dory is a reflective piece that discusses the idea of how we tend to overlook the people around us until they're gone. The artist talks about how we never truly wonder about a person's inner thoughts, feelings, or experiences unless they have left us. It's only when we recognize their absence that we realize the importance of knowing them better. The first verse of the song discusses this idea, of how we never stop to question or know the person in front of us until they have left us. The second verse continues by introducing two famous figures, Marilyn Monroe and Jesus, and how they were perceived by the world in very different ways to how they might have lived their lives.


In the chorus, the artist muses over how we take people for granted and rarely seek to understand them. Instead of making small talk, we should try to get to know others on a deeper level. The final verse brings us back to the present and how the artist will endeavor to make a friend and try to get to know them, without pretense or superficiality. The song ends with the idea of asking someone if they're scared to be alone.


Overall, the song is a contemplative piece that delves into the importance of understanding and empathizing with the people in our lives. The lyrics touch on how we tend to overlook people's true selves and focus purely on their outside appearance or façade. The song urges us to look beyond that and to seek to build meaningful relationships by understanding and truly getting to know the people close to us.


Line by Line Meaning

We never stop to wonder
We fail to contemplate about another person


Till a person's gone
Until someone departs from this world


We never yearn
We do not have a desire


To know him
To be acquainted with the person


Till he's traveled on
Until the person leaves us


When someone is around us
When we are in the company of another person


We never stop to ask
We do not take the initiative to inquire


Hey, what's behind your mirror
What are the feelings you conceal?


Hey, who's beneath your mask
What is the true nature of your person?


Sweet Marilyn Monroe
A beautiful actress named Marilyn Monroe


On the silver screen
Appearing in movies


Platinum reflection
Referring to the color of her hair


In a movie magazine
Appearing in a magazine about movies


Well, did you ever
Have you ever experienced


Have a headache
Suffered from severe pain in the head


Did your mama own a gramaphone
Did your mother possess a music player to play vinyl discs


Did you like to be an actress
Did you enjoy acting


Were you scared
Were you frightened


To be alone
To remain in solitude


We don't know what we're seeing
We are oblivious to what we observe


We take a Polaroid picture
We capture an image instantaneously


To find the human being
To discover the actual person instead of the image portrayed


Sweet beautiful Jesus
Referring to Jesus Christ


On a painted cross
Crucifixion by Nailing on Cross


Polystyrene body
Model of the body made of Polystyrene material


With a superficial gloss
The surface being shiny without any depth


Hey, were you
Were you


Jealous of your father
Did you feel envious of your father


Were you short
Were you vertically challenged


When you were fully grown
When you reached adulthood


Did you like to walk on water
Did you enjoy performing miracles


I think perhaps tomorrow
In the near future, I am going to try


I'll try to make a friend
I am going to attempt to form a companionship


To really get
To genuinely,


To know him
To understand them


Instead of pretend
Rather than putting on a facade


I'll ask him if his feet hurt
I'll inquire if their feet are painful


Has he burdens to be shared
Do they have any problems to talk about


And if he doesn't walk away
In case they don't leave abruptly


I'll ask him
I will question them


If he's scared
If they are afraid


And if he doesn't walk away
If they don't abandon the conversation


If his eyes don't
If their expression does not


Turn to stone
Become cold and unemotional


I'll ask him
I will enquire


If he's scared
If they too are scared


To be alone
To remain in solitude




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DORY LANGDON PREVIN

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

bountybar

I saw her in Glasgow, Scotland in, I think, late 1976 or maybe early 1977. Great show. This performance for network TV omits the following verse:


Sweet beautiful Jesus
On a painted cross
Polystyrene body
With a superficial gloss
Hey, were you
Jealous of your father?
Were you short
When you were fully grown?
Did you like to walk on water?
Were you scared
To be alone?



All comments from YouTube:

Vincent

There is so very little live performance available of Dory. She was a unique, special artist - much too 'real' for popular consumption but her true fans love her. Thank you for posting.

Common Pike

I'm wondering if this is 100% live ? There's a lot of instruments involved, and it sounds very good ...

hnc52

Dory had a lovely voice and wrote such moving music.Her Carnegie Hall album is a true gem.

sofia baker

A great thank you from Dory's grandaughter <3

That 70's Girl

Ne doubt about... she puts her heart and soul into the song. Thank you for sharing! 💖

Gabor Dobos

Most underrated artist of all time

POMMELHORSE POMMELHORSE

@sofia baker your grandmother was a great artist - and you're grandfather was really cute

sofia baker

It means a lot. I sincerely agree and I love to know she is in others thoughts <3

Sincerely,
Sofia (Dory's granddaughter)

Benn Mordecai

it honestly makes me sad to think about how someone can consistently produce such fantastic works and still be largely forgotten. I wish someone would help reinstate her to her deserved place in music history.

Jack Gaylord

Thank you ! I have been waiting years to hear someone else say that !

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