"I Alone" is the second single from American rock band Live's third studio album, Throwing Copper (1994). The single was released to radio stations in Canada and the United States but was only released commercially overseas. "I Alone" reached No. 6 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and was ranked 62nd-best song of the 1990s by VH1.[3] Live performed "I Alone" at the Woodstock '99 festival on July 23, 1999, in Rome, New York.[4]
| "I Alone" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Live | ||||
| from the album Throwing Copper | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | 1994[1] | |||
| Genre | Post-grunge[2] | |||
| Length | 3:48 | |||
| Label | Radioactive | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Live | |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Live singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Composition
"I Alone" is written in the key of G major (recorded a half step lower in G♭ major). Kowalczyk's vocal range spans from C♯3-G4.[5] Lead singer Ed Kowalczyk said of the song's lyrics, "People think 'I Alone' is a love song but it really wasn't. The lyrics were more abstract, encompassing a much larger message."[6] He explained the line, "The greatest of teachers won't hesitate to leave you there by yourself chained to fate," by saying that a profound lesson he derived from studying spiritual teachings was that religion and truth must be found for oneself and practiced, rather than just accepting the word of others.[7]
Track listings
All songs were written by Live.
Australian release[8]
- "I Alone"
- "Pain Lies on the Riverside"
- "Selling the Drama" (acoustic)
- "I Alone" – 3:51
- "I Alone" (acoustic) – 3:47
- "Pain Lies on the Riverside" – 5:10
Charts
| Chart (1994–1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[11] | 97 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] | 22 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] | 20 |
| Scotland (OCC)[14] | 42 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[15] | 48 |
| UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[16] | 8 |
| US Radio Songs (Billboard)[17] | 38 |
| US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[18] | 6 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[19] | 6 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1994 | Radio | Radioactive | [citation needed] |
| United Kingdom | February 6, 1995 |
| [20] |