Living Next Door To Alice

Album: Greatest Hits (1976)
Charted: 5 25
Play Video
  • 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
    As a big limousine rolled up
    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

    We 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

    Then Sally called back, and asked how I felt
    She said, "I know how to help"
    "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
    But 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 Writer/s: Michael Chapman, Nicholas Chinn
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 12

  • Mcdandy from NigeriaYou hardly understand how deep and sad the song is until it happens to you. It did happened to me and life became just a smoke and passed by and I turned to a shadow of myself. There will never be another Estella.
  • Titi from Budapest, HungatyLovely song, the "Who the f--k" version is funnier to shout and things but the other is just so emotional and relatable, I love it.
  • Jim From California from Cupertino, CaThere are probably many men, like myself, who can identify with the song, having passed up a "Sally", who really wanted him, chasing an "Alice", who is (or was) more desirable for one reason or another, but didn't show much, if any, interest in him.

    The song lyrics leave some questions. They have been living next door to each other for 24 years, and the "carving initials" lyrics imply that there were still living at home 24 years ago. So, does that mean that both of them are still living with their parents? Later, Alice leaves in a limousine. Usually, a limousine picks up people going on a trip, not making a permanent move. What about her home and her 24 or more years of accumulated belongings? Shouldn't a moving van have shown up?

    It's probably best not to dig too much into the lyrics. Instead, I just enjoy the song, perhaps even more because I can identify with the situation. I left both my "Alice" and "Sally" behind on in Massachusetts and left for California, where I met another woman within a year, who became my wife. We didn't live "happily ever after", but we did have many happy years together.
  • Trina from MichiganI don't know too many people who use limo's to move LOL I think she married someone else or died ;)
  • David Digney Uk from HalifaxLiving Next door to Alice. A favourite song of all time for me. I have Smokie on vinyl. The 70s is one of the best era's for music, brings back alot of memories.
  • George Pope from Vancouver - CanadaThis was a popular br song & still is played sometimes by smaller bands, & normally includes the lusty "Alice? Alice? Who the f-ck is Alice?"; explained by one such band's singer as the writer having finally gotten over her moving.
  • Seventh Mist from 7th HeavenThis song always brought "Sylvia's Mother" to mind and I just read on Wikipedia that on his American Top 40 broadcast of May 26th, 1979, Casey Kasem said that Chapman stated that his source of inspiration for this song was indeed "Sylvia's Mother!"
  • Sithembiso from Empangeni-ngwelezaneI like very much old songs than these of the current times
  • Patricia B from Adelaide I grow up with the original living next door to Alice and loved it when the second version living next door to Alice (who in the f--k Alice) the second was a fantastic play on the original
  • Ron from New Orleans First time I heard this song was at Oktoberfest in Munich. The entire crowd joined in shouting Alice, who the f--k is Alice.
  • George from Vancouver, CanadaI've only heard the "Alice? Who the f--k is Alice?" version when played by a bar band here in Richmond, BC, Canada. Catchy.
  • Ross Harrison from AustraliaThe Alice, Alice who the f**k is Alice was common here in Australia back in the 80's and another line was the, 24 years, just waitin for a chance, to tell her how I'm feeling, and maybe get into her pants.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

Mark Arm of Mudhoney

Mark Arm of MudhoneySongwriter Interviews

When he was asked to write a song for the Singles soundtrack, Mark thought the Seattle grunge scene was already overblown, so that's what he wrote about.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Victoria Williams

Victoria WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

Despite appearances on Carson, Leno and a Pennebaker film, Williams remains a hidden treasure.

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows

Adam Duritz of Counting CrowsSongwriter Interviews

"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.