Alone again…naturally.

Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Alone Again” is one of the most disorienting songs in pop music. The music is slightly bright and happy—it sounds like a love song or a light ditty by Donovan or Paul McCartney. But the lyrics are downright traumatic!

We recognize that the light sound is to hide the sad story. It is an attempt by the narrator to get through the day. The only thing he can do to prevent himself from jumping off the nearest cliff is tell his story and sing it in a slightly off-handed way.

The narrator has experienced this kind of pain and loss before. He remembers the loneliness he felt when his father died. He cried—he is not ashamed to say it. And then there is his mother. He attempted to console her about the death of his father but there was nothing he could do. Eventually she died too—he thinks she died of a broken heart. Leaving him alone again.

Things were just starting to look up for him after the loss of his parents. He met a woman who made him happy. He proposed and she accepted. However, his happiness was short-lived. O’Sullivan tells us that she just left him at the altar. In addition to losing the love of his life, he has to deal with the guests who are whispering “that must be horrible”. He is alone again. Naturally.

He tells us that if his mood doesn’t improve soon, he will probably jump off the nearest tower. The way he says it so casually and is disconcerting—the song is slightly upbeat and nonchalant. But what we don’t understand is that death would be an improvement to his current condition (in his mind). And what is the difference? Either way he would be alone.

The contrast of the music with the solemnity of the lyrics is what makes the song. The melody is beautiful on its own, but the combination of the two adds up to make a great all-time song. The acoustic classical guitar solo is the only time we really feel a slight shift to the heaviness of the story.

Are O’Sullivan’s thoughts about suicide serious or a tongue-in-cheek exaggeration to express his point? Perhaps a little of both—his feelings probably change moment to moment. There is certainly enough tragedy in the story that we could understand him feeling either way.

Alone Again (Naturally) Lyrics

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

Songwriter Gilbert O’sullivan