What's it all about, Alfie
Is it just for the moment we live
What's it all about when you sort it out, Alfie
Are we meant to take more than we give
Or are we meant to be kind
And if only fools are kind, Alfie
Then I guess it's wise to be cruel
And if life belongs only to the strong, Alfie
What will you lend on an old golden rule
As sure as I believe there's a heaven above, Alfie
I know there's something much more
Something even non-believers can believe in
I believe in love, Alfie
Without true love we just exist, Alfie
Until you find the love you've missed you're nothing, Alfie
When you walk let your heart lead the way
And you'll find love any day, Alfie, Alfie


Lyrics submitted by planetearth

Alfie Lyrics as written by Hal David Burt Bacharach

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Alfie song meanings
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2 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    lovely, touching lyrics. never quite figured out exactly the meaning of ".. what will you lend on an old golden rule?"

    Ideas anyone? I know what the Golden Rule is (for example, do unto others as you would have them do unto you), but to lend on it??? strange wording.

    tsreybon April 14, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    tsreyb... I, too, feel it's a strange wording but I came up with this:

    To "lend" is an expectation that the same thing (or an equivalent) will be returned. This relates to The Golden Rule where our (presumably kind) actions toward others are similarly returned.

    So, I'd say the speaker in the song is asking Alfie why "the strong" would help the weak if there is nothing valuable the weak can provide in return.

    Slarti42on January 06, 2011   Link

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