Freddie P's Blog

August 5, 2008 @ 10:20

Delyse and I left the tin palace on Thursday night and returned home for her brother's 30th anniversary party in Cambridge. It took place on Saturday, and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.

Being home on a long weekend isn't my favourite thing to do, but like anything else it all comes back to attitude. We have a swimming pool and a Tiki Bar at home, so there are a lot worse places we could be on a Saturday in the GTA.

On Sunday Delyse turned to me and said, "I'm sort of glad we came home, I'm enjoying this." Then she took a sip of her sangria, which was remarkable in itself because this woman rarely drinks.

We went for a long walk yesterday and then went for a swim, and then later on in the afternoon I vacuumed the pool. It was during this time that I was took a stroll down memory lane thanks to my Starchoice Satellite system and music channel 909 which is called Flashback 70's.

While removing some lint and crap from the bottom of the pool the song "Alone Again" (Naturally) by Gilbert O'Sullivan came on.

I hadn't heard it in a long time and it's a good thing because I was quickly reminded of how aggravating this song is. Although it has a catchy tune, the words are downright depressing and I've often wondered what Gilbert was thinking when he wrote it.

I can understand being bummed out about being "alone" all the time, and I can understand writing a song about your hard luck, but the "naturally" part always struck me because it's so negative and self defeating. The guy expects the worst to happen.

The ending kills me as well. Sad stories often have good endings or optimistic messages attached. Not this one.

The song starts with him threatening to kill himself.

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

And it ends with his mother and father dying.

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

It really is one of those songs that you'd like to ram a pitchfork through your speakers when it's playing. It's every bit as bad as James Blunts, "You're Beautiful."

And how was your weekend?