Take This Tune

Posted: Monday, January 18, 2010 by Travis Cody in
10


Take This Tune is a feature hosted by my pal Jamie at Duward Discussion. Jamie puts up a video prompt complete with lyrics to the song, and the task is to write something inspired by the title of the song or something in the lyrics.

I really enjoy participating in Jamie's feature because of where the prompts take my thoughts and emotions. This week's prompt is the song Heartbreak Hill, a song about heartbreak as performed by Emmylou Harris with the Nash Ramblers.

Now I have suffered a heartbreak, which I wrote about briefly here. I'm not going to rehash that episode. It took time to recover from that, but I did so enough said about it.

Instead my mind went to music and the song Alone Again, Naturally.

Written by Gilbert O'Sullivan and released in 1972, this has got to be the most depressing song ever. There's no happy ending, and nothing good happens to make you think that the subject of the song gets any positive cosmic karma after going through a series of heart breaking events.

And yet, as depressing as this song can be, it's one of my favorites. I can't explain why, other than to say that I like the melody.

Alone Again, Naturally

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 who
Ever what it’s like when you’re shattered
Left standing in the lurch at a church
Where people saying: "My God, that’s tough
She's 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 well 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 and His mercy
Or 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
Now 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
Alone again, naturally

10 comments:

  1. Durward Discussion says:
    18 January, 2010 08:03

    It must be the experiences of my life, but that song has never made me sad. "Alone, naturally" is just that "natural". People go in and out the doors of your life. Some wonderful ones stay while others depart. All you can do is try to love them while they are here.

  1. Charles Gramlich says:
    18 January, 2010 08:32

    I like that song too. It's comforting in a kind of bittersweet way.

  1. Linda says:
    18 January, 2010 08:42

    Excellent choice, Travis! Having been alone in love now for more years than I care to count, it most definitely hits the poignant parts of me when I occasionally take the time to think about the fact that I will probably be alone for the rest of my life and never fails to bring a lump to my throat.

    The lyrics "It seems to me that there are more hearts broken in the world that can’t be mended,
    left unattended" were written for me but then again, that's the hallmark of a good heartbreak song - when the lyrics feel like they are yours and yours alone. This song does that and does it well.

    Now, if you'll excuse me I'm going to go sit in the corner and cry for awhile! :-)

  1. Patty says:
    18 January, 2010 08:50

    good choice..I remember that song

  1. Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. says:
    18 January, 2010 16:37

    thanks for the memories.
    <><

  1. Anonymous says:
    18 January, 2010 16:59

    nice article. I would love to follow you on twitter. By the way, did any one hear that some chinese hacker had hacked twitter yesterday again.

  1. Debra says:
    18 January, 2010 22:53

    Well Trav, you and I have something in common.

    In reading your post I clicked on the post about your experience with Hodgkins. What a surprise, as I too am a Hodgkins survivor. I took radiation treatments in 1988 and had a recurrance in 1989. I went through a years worth ABVD/MOPP chemotherapy and yes it nearly killed me! The treatments that is, not the Hodgkins. I have been in remission since 1990 praise the Lord!

    And yes, what a heartbreak that must have been for you.

    I had not thought of that song in a long time. I like the melody as well.

  1. Vinny "Bond" Marini says:
    19 January, 2010 10:30

    I love the way your mind works for these...

    A song that I always liked, even with the overplay it received on the radio

  1. Travis Cody says:
    19 January, 2010 17:57

    Jamie: I never looked at it that way.

    Charles: Indeed.

    Linda: Don't cry! Things have a way of turning when you don't expect them to.

    Patty: Thanks and welcome!

    NNG: Glad I could do that.

    Debra: Now we're both healthy!

    V: Sometimes the songs Jamie chooses just take me to a good place.

  1. Lana Gramlich says:
    19 January, 2010 22:04

    Having spent most of my entire life alone, I don't mind it. In many ways, I've grown to prefer it, but Charles does make for happier days, certainly.

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