Alone Again...Naturally
by John A
(Tyler, TX)
In 1972 Gilbert O’Sullivan sang a song about being alone and was one of Rock N Roll’s top hits for that year.
Before delving into what I want to say, take a little time to read the lyrics to that song.
The lyrics are little depressing, but help make my point about being alone.
“Alone Again…Naturally”
In a little while from now
If I'm not feeling any less sour
I promised 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 are saying
My God that's tough, she stood him up
No point in us remaining
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, but 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
All about God and His mercy
For 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 what ever 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
Songwriters
GRUSIN, DAVID
Published by
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Now that you all have read those lyrics I thought I would share some thoughts about loneliness in retirement.
For many of us, including me, we wrapped ourselves up into our work. Many of our friends were coworkers or other business associates. When we retired, all of that interaction with others came to a sudden stop. We no longer had the hustle and bustle of the work place and now some feel isolated and alone. It is soon realized we didn't plan enough to take on new activities and make new friends.
Recently, it came out in the news media where studies were published about people being alone. Obviously the studies indicated being alone is not good for us. It leads to depression, suicide and health problems. This is particularly true where an individual is faced with being alone in retirement and not coming home to a spouse because he/she passed on, or went on elsewhere because of divorce.
It’s important for all of us in our retirement years to find ways to socialize with others and make activities to occupy our time. In doing so, it will help deal with that feeling of being alone which can be a miserable experience if nothing is done about it.
It’s a pretty sad experience for one to go home not having activities and people to be around and sit staring at the idiot box…the TV. The TV makes noise and breaks the silence of an existence with nothing to look forward too in life. And when the TV is off, the silence can be deafening. Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt and hat.
So for those of you out there who are faced with this type of dilemma of being alone and newly retired, get out there and find something to occupy your time; anything.
Take some dance lessons, get involved in church, volunteer, take a class...do anything except for hitting the bars. Bars are full of lonely people and you don't want to share their problems. Therefore, it’s important to go out and make new friends to share thoughts and experiences; to start a new life by cultivating the self by learning new things.
Otherwise, you’ll only be Alone Again…Naturally.
