Peak
25
Weeks
20
Score
2,042
Chart Year
1977
Written by the regular team of Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn, the men who wrote hits for Suzie Quatro, Sweet and (the one they don't talk about) Gary Glitter, "Living Next Door To Alice" was recorded initially by New World in 1972. In November 1976, it was released by Smokie, a group Chapman and Chinn were producing, for whom it was a massive hit, topping the charts in no fewer than seven countries. Curiously, this was a double A-side, the other side being "Night Moves" by Bob Seger. In 1995, the Dutch project Gompie decided to add an unfortunate refrain to it: "Alice, Alice, who the f--k is Alice?" This version topped the Netherlands chart. >> In this song, the singer is heartbroken because Alice, his neighbor for 24 years, is moving away. He never expressed his feelings for her, but he clearly thought about her a lot. In the last verse, his other neighbor, Sally, says that she's been waiting 24 years for him, and she's still here, but he ignores her and continues to pine for Alice.
Sally called, when she got the word She said "I suppose you've heard about Alice" Well, I rushed to the window, and I looked outside And I could hardly believe my eyes This big limousine pulled slowly into Alice's drive Oh, I don't know why she's leaving, or where she's gonna go I guess she's got her reasons but I just don't want to know 'Cause for twenty four years I've been living next door to Alice Twenty four years, just waitin' for a chance To tell her how I'm feeling, maybe get a second glance Now I've gotta get used to not living next door to Alice Grew up together, two kids in the park Carved our initials deep in the bark me and Alice Now she walks to the door, with her head held high Just for a moment, I caught her eye As the big limousine pulled slowly out of Alice's drive Oh, I don't know why she's leaving, or where she's gonna go I guess she's got her reasons but I just don't want to know 'Cause for twenty four years I've been living next door to Alice Twenty four years, just waitin' for a chance To tell her how I'm feeling, maybe get a second glance Now I've gotta get used to not living next door to Alice Sally called back, and asked how I felt She said "I know how to help, you get over Alice" She said "Now Alice is gone, but I'm still here You know I've been waiting twenty four years" And the big limousine disappeared I don't know why she's leaving, or where she's gonna go I guess she's got her reasons but I just don't want to know 'Cause for twenty four years I've been living next door to Alice Twenty four years, just waitin' for a chance To tell her how I'm feeling, maybe get a second glance Now I'll never get used to not living next door to Alice No, I'll never get used to not living next door to Alice
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dec 4, 1976 | 84 | 42 |
| 2 | Dec 11, 1976 | 74 | 52 |
| 3 | Dec 18, 1976 | 63 | 63 |
| 4 | Dec 25, 1976 | 53 | 73 |
| 5 | Jan 1, 1977 | 53 | 73 |
| 6 | Jan 8, 1977 | 47 | 79 |
| 7 | Jan 15, 1977 | 46 | 80 |
| 8 | Jan 22, 1977 | 40 | 86 |
| 9 | Jan 29, 1977 | 36 | 90 |
| 10 | Feb 5, 1977 | 32 | 94 |
| 11 | Feb 12, 1977 | 29 | 97 |
| 12 | Feb 19, 1977 | 27 | 99 |
| 13 | Feb 26, 1977 | 25 | 101 |
| 14 | Mar 5, 1977 | 25 | 101 |
| 15 | Mar 12, 1977 | 25 | 101 |
| 16 | Mar 19, 1977 | 49 | 77 |
| 17 | Mar 26, 1977 | 69 | 57 |
| 18 | Apr 2, 1977 | 81 | 45 |
| 19 | Apr 9, 1977 | 80 | 46 |
| 20 | Apr 16, 1977 | 96 | 30 |