My Gen X Playlist: Alone Again Or – The Damned

Living in a foreign country, I experienced many firsts. One first was a feeling of loneliness. Before I left, it wasn’t uncommon for me to do many things on my own. I was pretty independent and felt fine running around by myself. But being in a foreign country where you don’t know a soul, can’t speak the language or read a thing walking down the streets, it’s easy to feel isolated and alone. This was before email (yeah, I’m old) and it was expensive to set up a land line, so any communication from home was usually by snail mail. Hearing a friendly voice wasn’t readily available.

There were days that I didn’t utter a word. It’s an odd thing going through the day in total silence. At home, I may chit chat with the checkout person at the grocery store or even the occasional “excuse me” or “thank you” to a stranger on the street. Although I learned a few words and phrases, there was a fear that my limited vocabulary would spawn a full on response from the other side. I’d had a number of unsettling experiences that transformed me into a deer in headlights. So I kept quiet and had days where not a single word left my mouth. Even now as I think about this, one word pops into my head. Strange.

I faced some difficult moments when loneliness would creep up on me. All I wanted was not to feel. I had to find a way to power through those times. Music was my savior. I had it on constantly. I also did a lot of reading. Because of the exchange rate, books in English could be a little pricy. I remember considering cost per page. This led me to buy Stephen King’s The Stand because it was over a thousand pages. Who buys books like this? Apparently me. Funny.

Despite the difficulties surviving loneliness, I’m grateful for the experience. It’s a life experience that allows me to feel grace and empathy. Anyone who has experienced loneliness knows you never forget what it feels like.

It also made me appreciate friendships. People need people. I need people in my life. Even though Covid made me retreat socially a bit, I’m slowly getting back out there. It’s funny feeling out of practice socializing. This past year I’ve slowly gotten my legs back. And even though I’ve had moments when I’ve felt awkward as shit, I’m reminded it’s a good thing. Feeling is a good thing. I’m starting to feel comfortable leaning back in.

The Damned released Alone Again Or in 1987. It was a cover of Love’s original released in 1967. The song was inspired by a memory of waiting for a girlfriend.

The repetition of being “alone again” highlights the loneliness and isolation the narrator feels, as their love interest continues to make choices that keep them apart. This repetition emphasizes the recurring cycle of hope and disappointment in their relationship.

Despite the pain, the narrator acknowledges that they will be alone again tonight, emphasizing the inevitability of their solitude. The repetition of this line in the song reaffirms the narrator’s acceptance of their situation, revealing a sense of resignation and emotional exhaustion.

– songtell

I was in the hospital on heavy pain killers and I hallucinated that they were playing the Damned over the speaker system, for a whole day.. Best. Band. Ever.

– YouTube comment from atomicbettie

My dad used to play this when I was a kid. He would put records on in his home office at weekends and I would dance for hours. He passed away last month and this song brings happy and sad tears. Such a memorable piece of music for such a memorable guy

– YouTube comment from abigailhugh-jones8188

The title is an enigma. I’m not quite sure what the “or” is suppose to represent. Maybe it’s giving hint that we have a choice. Not to choose solitude. Not to continue the Covid hibernation from social interactions. Not to be alone. I could be wrong. It’s just that the “or” hanging off the end like that feels as though it’s trying to tell me something. I can feel it. And again, feeling is a good thing.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Yeah I said it's alright
I won't forget
All the times
I waited patiently for you
As you do just what you choose to do
And I will be alone again tonight my dear

Yeah I heard a funny thing
Somebody said to me
That you could be in love
With almost anyone
You think people are the greatest fun
And I will be alone again tonight for you

Hey I said its alright
You know I won't forget
All the times
I waited patiently for you
Now, you do just what
You choose to do
And I will be alone again tonight its true