Living Next Door To Alice by Smokie

Album: Greatest Hits (1976)

Charted: 5 25

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Songfacts®:

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. >>
Suggestion credit:
Alexander Baron - London, England
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.

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.

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