What’s it all about, Alfie?
Is it just for the moment we live?
What’s it all about when you sort it out, Alfie?
Are we meant to take more than we give
Or are we meant to be kind?
And if only fools are kind, Alfie
Then I guess it is wise to be cruel
And if life belongs only to the strong, Alfie
Will you lend on an old golden rule?
As sure as I believe, there’s a heaven above, Alfie
I know there’s something much more
Something even non-believers can believe in I believe in love, Alfie
Without true love we just exist, Alfie
Until you’ve found the love you’ve missed
You’re nothing, Alfie
When you walk, let your heart lead the way
And you’ll find love any day, Alfie
Alfie
Aside from the obvious beauty of this song I find the emotional commitment of the performers very moving. There are so many aspiring young musicians these days. When you look at the level of this entirely live performance, no enhancements, no computers, no overdubbing, it's really humbling.
Burt's favourite song he says. The pressure in the room with such a technically difficult song and a perfectionist composer must have been mind bending.
She initially didn't want to record the song and established several conditions, including Burt travel to England to play himself the piano and compose the orchestra arrangement. She told this in the hope that he would say 'no' and she could use it as a excuse to not record the song, but when Bacharach agreed with the terms she had no option unless to record it. One of the things she said when she first read the lyrics and heard the demo that has been sent to her from USA was: "Alfie? This is the kind of name we give to a dog!". Other funny fact about this is that Bacharach and Hal David themselves didn't want to compose the song for the film. Who could imagine that it would turn out on one of more beautiful songs of all times and the great hit it became!
What a song! What an arrangement! What a singer! Still when you've got Burt Bacharach, George Martin and Cilla in the same studio, you're bound to come up with something pretty special!
I loved the version By Dionne Warwick, but this version by Cilla Black has firmly captivated me. Her voice was both powerful and tender. No ordinary singer. Sorry she is gone.
