Robert Wyatt – Alifib

Song MeaningAlfreda Benge is an artist and collaborator with Robert Wyatt. She is also his wife and more - especially as he has been confined to a wheelchair since the 1970's. She's often referred to as Alfie... and Alife is an anagram of it with also the obvious meaning of "A life".

This is one of Wyatt's songs which - at least in part - refers to his wife.

It's also a companion song to Alifib (which includes Alfie's response to Alife).

Regards the gibberish language.... does anything have to make sense, anyway?

No, it does not.

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  @IgwaldTheWooly

General CommentThe lyrics are pure gibberish. The way Wyatt sings them, however, is clear as a bell. Sometimes making a coherent point comes second to distilling true emotion and passion.

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  @imsokoolitsunkool

General CommentReminds me of James Joyce's Finnegans Wake. Language heard in a dream, or just heard wrong. Look for similar sounds that mean something to you.

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  @oilywagg

General CommentOilywagg it reminded me of Joyce too. It also reminds me of the type of middle English used in Canterbury tales. Also interesting that Wyatt was prominent in the Canterbury music scene. I know Joyce liked Chaucer a lot and was clearly influenced by him.

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  @pinkslaysabath