Peak
64
Weeks
11
Score
580
Chart Year
1985
Its lyrics talk about a man's depression after a break-up. The music video had a story similar to a lot of other power ballads. Almost 70% of it is filmed in black and white along with some coloured scenes. It shows the band performing the song live along with some shots of Don Dokken being alone in a room.
This heartbreak power ballad dates back to the mid-70s when lead singer Don Dokken made a 4-track demo of the song, which he put on cassette. He was 23 when he wrote it. Ten years later, Dokken was working on their second album, Tooth And Nail, and their record company requested a ballad, which was de rigueur at the time - Journey did it with "Faithfully" and Night Ranger with "Sister Christian." Instead of writing an entirely new song, Don dug through his cassettes and found his recording of "Alone Again." He and the rest of the band reworked it and recorded it with producer Tom Werman. It did its job, giving Dokken their first Hot 100 entry and helping the album sell over a million copies in America. Don Dokken sounds seriously anguished in this song, but it couldn't have been that bad because he can't remember who he wrote it about. "People ask me all the time, 'Who did you write it about?'" he told Songfacts. "I don't know. 'Was it about a girlfriend?' I don't know! I just wrote it." Dokken could pull off a song like this better than most because of their guitarist, George Lynch, who could fill the space after the second chorus with a monster solo. Lynch quickly earned a reputation as a top rock guitarist. The music video gave Dokken their first major exposure on MTV. It's mostly performance footage, with a few shots of Don Dokken alone in his hotel room. It was directed by Wayne Isham, who was in the early stages of a career that saw him become one of the top players; he ended up behind the lens for videos by Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, Janet Jackson and many other MTV stars.
I'd like to see you in the morning light I like to feel you when it comes to night Now I'm here and I'm all alone Still I know how it feels, I'm alone again Tried so hard to make you see But I couldn't find the words Now the tears, they fall like rain I'm alone again without you Alone again without you Alone again without you I said stay, but you turned away Tried to say that it was me Now I'm here and I've lost my way Now I know how it feels, I'm alone again Tried so hard to make you see But I couldn't find the words Now the tears, they fall like rain I'm alone again without you Alone again without you Alone again without you Alone again without you I tried so hard to make you see But I couldn't find the words Now the tears, they fall like rain I'm alone again without you Alone again without you Alone again Alone again
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 4, 1985 | 86 | 40 |
| 2 | May 11, 1985 | 82 | 44 |
| 3 | May 18, 1985 | 72 | 54 |
| 4 | May 25, 1985 | 68 | 58 |
| 5 | Jun 1, 1985 | 65 | 61 |
| 6 | Jun 8, 1985 | 64 | 62 |
| 7 | Jun 15, 1985 | 64 | 62 |
| 8 | Jun 22, 1985 | 72 | 54 |
| 9 | Jun 29, 1985 | 83 | 43 |
| 10 | Jul 6, 1985 | 92 | 34 |
| 11 | Jul 13, 1985 | 95 | 31 |