Sir, – Frank McNally’s piece on the gloomy lyrics of songs from his childhood (An Irishman’s Diary, March 30th) omitted what is surely one of the most depressing ever written, that of Gilbert O’Sullivan’s Alone Again (Naturally), which was a worldwide hit in 1971.
The protagonist is jilted at the altar, his father dies, his mother dies, and he contemplates ending it all by jumping from a tall building, and all within 3½ minutes.
BRENDAN McMAHON,
Naas,
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Co Kildare.
