Bob Day (born Ber… Read Full Bio ↴The Allisons was an English pop duo consisting of:
Bob Day (born Bernard Colin Day, on 2 February 1941, in Trowbridge, Wiltshire)
John Alford (born Brian Henry John Alford, on 31 December 1939, in London) - not to be confused with 90s UK pop starJohn Alford.
They were marketed as being brothers, using the same surname of Allison.
The Allisons represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961 with the song "Are You Sure". They came in second place with 24 points. The song was released as a single on the Fontana Records label, and climbed to number 1 on the UK New Musical Express pop chart. However, the official UK singles chart shows the song reached number 2. Despite a couple of minor follow-up hits, the duo disbanded in 1963. John initially tried song writing, and they teamed up for short tours to keep 'The Allisons' name alive. Additionally, in the 1970s and 1980s John was joined by other "brothers" - Mike "Allison" and Tony "Allison". By the 1990s Bob and John regularly reunited to perform in the oldies circuit
Are You Sure
The Allisons Lyrics
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Farewell (farewell)
I'm not sure what to do
So long (so long)
Au revoir (au revoir)
It's hard, but I'll pull through
Comes tomorrow, you won't want me
Back again to hold you tightly?
Now are you sure
It's not your foolish heart?
That you won't grieve
If we're to be apart?
You will see as time goes by
We'll grow lonely
You and I
Dreaming of each other and we'll cry
Goodbye (goodbye)
Farewell (farewell)
I'm not sure what to do
So long (so long)
Au revoir (au revoir)
It's hard, but I'll pull through
Are you sure you won't be sorry?
Comes tomorrow, you won't want me
Back again to hold you tightly?
Just stop and think
It's your decision now
For you're the one
Who went and broke the vow
You'll be sorry
Wait and see
Spend your life in misery
Wishing that you had returned to me
Goodbye (goodbye)
Farewell (farewell)
What is there to live for?
Before you go
Just think now are you sure?
Are you sure you won't be sorry?
Comes tomorrow, you won't want me
Back again to hold you tightly in my arms?
The Allisons’ song “Are You Sure?” tells a tale of a relationship on the verge of breaking up, with one partner questioning the other’s decision to end things. The song is a plea for the departing partner to consider their choice and not be too quick to make a final decision. The chorus “Are you sure you won't be sorry? Comes tomorrow, you won't want me back again to hold you tightly?” emphasizes the fear of regret and the possibility of longing for the lost love in the future.
The verses reflect introspection and sadness on behalf of the person left behind. The lines “You will see as time goes by we'll grow lonely, you and I dreaming of each other and we'll cry” reveal a sense of despair and heartbreak over the separation. However, the song ends on a note of hope, with the final plea “Before you go, just think now are you sure?” suggesting that there is a chance for reconciliation if the departing partner takes some time to reflect.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the pain and uncertainty of breaking up, with a bittersweet chorus that acknowledges the inevitability of separation while also questioning whether it is truly necessary.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodbye (goodbye)
The singer is bidding farewell
Farewell (farewell)
The singer is saying goodbye permanently
I'm not sure what to do
The singer is uncertain about what to do next
So long (so long)
The artist is saying goodbye for a long period of time
Au revoir (au revoir)
The artist is saying goodbye in French
It's hard, but I'll pull through
The singer acknowledges that parting is difficult but they will cope
Are you sure you won't be sorry?
The singer questions the listener whether they will regret the decision
Comes tomorrow, you won't want me
The artist predicts that the listener will reconsider their decision tomorrow
Back again to hold you tightly?
The artist wonders if they will be welcomed back in the future
Now are you sure
The artist reiterates their question and prompts the listener to reconsider
It's not your foolish heart?
The singer suggests that the listener's heart is to blame for the breakup
That you won't grieve
The artist questions whether the listener will mourn the separation
If we're to be apart?
The singer assumes that the two of them will be separated
You will see as time goes by
The singer is confident that the listener will regret their decision in the future
We'll grow lonely
The singer and the listener will feel alone
You and I
The artist and the listener will share the experience of being lonely
Dreaming of each other and we'll cry
Both the artist and the listener will remember each other and feel emotional
Just stop and think
The singer urges the listener to consider carefully
It's your decision now
The singer acknowledges that the listener has the final say
For you're the one
The listener is responsible for the outcome
Who went and broke the vow
The listener is the one who broke a promise
You'll be sorry
The artist predicts that the listener will regret their decision
Wait and see
The singer advises the listener to wait and observe the consequences
Spend your life in misery
The artist warns that the listener will lead an unhappy life
Wishing that you had returned to me
The listener will regret not returning to the singer
What is there to live for?
The singer questions the purpose of life without the listener
Before you go
The singer asks for the listener's attention before leaving
Just think now are you sure?
The artist repeats the question and emphasizes its importance
Back again to hold you tightly in my arms?
The artist hopes to reunite with the listener and embrace them
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOB ALLISON, JOHN ALLISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@edwardhanrahan4143
Proud of my grandfather Colin such a lovely man ❤
@chrishardy576
I remember being allowed to stay up and watch the Eurovision Song Contest live when I was six years old - the song stayed with me ever since. Lovely song. Thanks for posting this.
@Lincslass86
The one on the right John Alford is my grandad. Sadly he passed a few weeks ago
@Lincslass86
This is my grandad. John Alford. Unfortunately he passed away a few weeks ago :( but he was definitely a character. This song always makes me cry.
@PAULLONDEN
Even as a 10 year old in '61 this brought melancholic feelings of unreachable love .
Always thought this was an American duo .
@Luxsky
I was born in 1974 but this was part of my childhood. I discovered this on a Readers Digest box set called Golden Hit Parade, along with other great songs like Picture of You, Concrete and Clay, Tossing and Turning, and He’s in Town. Wonderful then and wonderful now.
@gunternetzer9621
What a class act and one of the best ESC entries ever. They had more talent in their little fingers than all the Eurovision oafs of today combined. Mankind is going backwards.
@MultiConbrio
Thank you for the Allisons. I was 9years when they won. Of course the song has remained in my head ever since. (59Yrs) Thank you again.
@aethelredtheunready1476
Likewise. I was 10. Just a squirt. Music was whatever my parents played. I heard this and it connected with me. Went back to being a kid. six years later it happened again with "San Francisco" by Scott McKenzie. But now I was 16, living in London in the Swinging Sixties. A floodgate opened that never closed.
@aethelredtheunready1476
@Ričardas Lukjanovas Ačiū. Are you sure?