54听|听Top 100 Alone Again (Naturally) Gilbert O'Sullivan The former Raymond O鈥橲ullivan had hit the top 10 in 1970 with 鈥淣othing Rhymed鈥 - 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
frankly ill-thought out image of flat cap and pudding-basin haircut. Yet this was nothing compared to the following year鈥檚 鈥淎lone Again (Naturally)鈥. 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鈥檚 down!
Having been jilted the narrator opines that he鈥檚 just another of life鈥檚 losers finally detailing the bleakness of his parents鈥 deaths. If this seems a tad self-pitying O鈥橲ullivan 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 鈥淐lair鈥 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.
Songwriting tips Alone听Again (Naturally)听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 knowledge Test your knowledge of Alone Again (Naturally) and Gilbert O'Sullivan.
听Full Schedule
Alone听Again (Naturally)听has such memorable lyrics. Find your own inspiration in 
听Newsletter sign-up