 | | 54 | Top 100
Alone Again (Naturally)
Gilbert O'Sullivan
The former Raymond O’Sullivan had hit the top 10 in 1970 with “Nothing Rhymed” - a distinctive brand of melodic, yet maudlin, piano ballad. Its startlingly self-searching lyrics were only eclipsed by a |  Song facts | | Composer | Gilbert O'Sullivan | | | Genre | Pop | | | Year of Release | 1972 | | | UK Chart Position | 3 |
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frankly ill-thought out image of flat cap and pudding-basin haircut. Yet this was nothing compared to the following year’s “Alone Again (Naturally)”. Beginning with the singer declaring his intent to commit suicide, it goes on to list the ways in which life has a way of kicking him when he’s down!
Having been jilted the narrator opines that he’s just another of life’s losers finally detailing the bleakness of his parents’ deaths. If this seems a tad self-pitying O’Sullivan sweetens the song with not only a gorgeous melody but an unspoken knowledge that such over-the-top cynicism cannot, surely, be without an amount of black humour. By the time of his #1 “Clair” the mix had become too saccharine, but for a short while, this astonishing piece of popular existentialism had us all guessing.
Listen to Gilbert O'Sullivan on songwriting | |
Gilbert O'Sullivan talks about the business of writing lyrics.
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Other versions | |
 Listen to Sarah Vaughan's cover of Alone Again (Naturally).
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Songwriting tips Alone Again (Naturally) has such memorable lyrics. Find your own inspiration in Writing Lyrics.It's not easy to keep up with Gilbert. There's more songwriting help in Writing a Song. | | Test your knowledgeTest your knowledge of Alone Again (Naturally) and Gilbert O'Sullivan.TAKE THE CHALLENGE! |
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