Alone Again (Naturally) chords
by Gilbert O'SullivanSong Key: F# Major
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: 86 bpm
Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e
Skill Level: Intermediate
Guitar Chords in F Major: F, F6, Fmaj7, Faug, Am, Am7b5, E7, Gm, Gm7, Gm7b5, Gm9, Ab, D7, D7b9, Dm, Dsus2, Dm7b5, Eb7, C/G, C7, C7b9, Bm7b5.
Capo: 1st fret (to play along with the video in F# Major)
Calculations and formulas for the jazzy chords can be found below.
Play-Along Video & Chord Charts
Alone Again (Naturally)
Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key F F6 Dsus2 Dm Gm9 C7 F
Intro: 4/4 ‖ – | – | – | ‖
Fmaj7 F6 Am
1. In a lit-tle while from now If I’m not feel-ing an-y less sour
Am7b5 D7
I prom-ise my-self To treat myself And vi-sit a near-by to-wer
Gm7 Gm7b5
And climb-ing to the top To throw my-self off
F Faug
In an ef-fort to make it clear to who-e-ver
F6 Bm7b5 E7
What it’s like when you’re shat - tered
Am Am7b5 D7b9 D7
Left stand-ing in the lurch At a church where peop-le say - ing
Gm Gm7b5
“My God that’s tough She stood him up No point in us re-main-ing
Fmaj7 F6 Am D7
We may as well go home” As I did on my own
Gm C7b9 F
A-lone a-gain Nat-ur-al-ly
Fmaj7 F6 Am
2. To think that on-ly yes-ter-day I was cheer-ful bright and gay
Am7b5 D7
Look-ing for-ward to Would-n’t do? The role I was a-bout to play
Gm7 Gm7b5
But as if to knock me down Re-al-i-ty came a-round
F Faug
And with-out so much As a mere touch
F6 Bm7b5 E7
Threw me in-to lit-tle piec - es
Am Am7b5 D7b9 D7
Leav-ing me to doubt Talk a-bout God in his mer - cy
Gm Gm7b5
Who if He rea-lly does ex-ist Why did He de-sert me
Fmaj7 F6 Am D7
In my hour of need I tru-ly am in-deed
Gm C7b9 F
A-lone a-gain Nat-ur-al-ly
Ab
Bridge: It seems to me that there are more hearts
Eb7 Gm7b5 C7
Bro-ken in the world that can’t be | mend-ed - |
Ab Dm7b5
Left un- at - | tend-ed - |
C/G Gm7 C7
What do we do? What do we | do? - |
Fmaj7 F6 Am Am7b5 Am7b5 D7 Gm7 Gm7b5
Instr: | – | | | – | | |
F Faug F6 Bm7b5 E7
| – | / |
Am Am7b5 D7 Gm Gm7b5 Fmaj7 F6 Am D7
| | - | | | - | – |
Gm C7b9 F
A-lone a-gain Nat-ur-al-ly
Fmaj7 F6 Am
3. Look-ing back ov-er the years And what-ev-er else that ap-pears
Am7b5 D7
I re-mem-ber I cried when my father died, never wishing to hide the tears
Gm7 Gm7b5
And at six-ty five years old My Moth-er God rest her soul
F Faug
Could-n’t un-der-stand Why the on-ly man
F6 Bm7b5 E7
She had ev-er loved had been ta - ken
Am Am7b5 D7b9 D7
Leav-ing her to start With a heart so bad-ly brok - en
Gm Gm7b5
Des-pite en-cour-age-ment from me No words were ev-er spok-en
Fmaj7 F6 Am D7
When she pas-sed a-way I cried and cried all day
Gm C7b9 F
A-lone a-gain Nat-ur-al-ly
Gm C7b9 C7 F
A-lone a-gain Nat-ur-al-ly
Calculating the jazzy chords:
- You will notice a few m7b5 or half-diminished seventh chords: 1-b3-b5-b7
- Faug is an F augmented chord with the formula 1-3-#5, also written as F+
- F6 is an F chord with an added 6th: 1-3-5-6
- C7b9 is a C7 chord with an added flattened 9th: 1-3-5-b7-b9.
- Same applies to D7b9
- Gm9 is a Gm7 chord with an added 9th: 1-3-5-b7-9
| Chord | Tonic Scale | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Am7b5 | A-B-C#-D-E-F#-G# | 1-b3-b5-b7 | A-C-Eb-G |
| Bm7b5 | B-C#-D#-E-F#-G#-A# | 1-b3-b5-b7 | B-D-F-A |
| Dm7b5 | D-E-F#-G-A-B-C# | 1-b3-b5-b7 | D-F-Ab-C |
| Gm7b5 | G-A-B-C-D-E-F# | 1-b3-b5-b7 | G-Bb-Db-F |
| Faug | F-G-A-Bb-C-D-E | 1-3-#5 | F-A-C# |
| F6 | F-G-A-Bb-C-D-E | 1-3-5-6 | F-A-C-D |
| C7b9 | C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C-D | 1-3-5-b7-b9 | C-E-G-Bb-Db |
| D7b9 | D-E-F#-G-A-B-C#-D-E | 1-b3-b5-b7 | D-F#-A-C-Eb |
| Gm9 | G-A-B-C-D-E-F#-G-A | 1-3-5-b7-9 | G-Bb-D-F-A |
Beginners: There are some pretty testing chords in this song. If you are a beginner and feel comfortable with the essential open chords, learn how to play barre chords and re-visit this song.
Song Details:
- Songwriter: Gilbert O'Sullivan
- Lyrics Begin: Oh, in a little while from now, if I'm not feeling any less sour,
- Performing Artist: Gilbert O'Sullivan
- Single:
Recorded: 1971
Released: 18 February 1972 (UK), May 1972 (US)
B-side: Save It - Genre: Soft Rock, Pop
Notable Covers
- Andy Williams (1972) – Featured on his album Alone Again (Naturally), showcasing his smooth vocal style.
- Johnny Mathis (1972) – A lush orchestral version with Mathis’ signature crooning on his album Song Sung Blue.
- Sarah Vaughan (1972) – A stunning jazz interpretation on her album Feelin’ Good.
- Shirley Bassey (1976) – Featured on her album Love, Life and Feelings, adding dramatic flair
- Pet Shop Boys & Elton John (2002) – A unique, electronic-infused version.
- Neil Diamond (2010) – A heartfelt version included on his album Dreams.
- Diana Krall & Michael Bublé (2014) – A duet version included on Krall's album Wallflower.
