“Alfie” by Cher is a beautiful, gentle, and deeply philosophical song that asks one of the most important questions in life: “What’s it all about?” At its heart, the song is a quiet and thoughtful plea to a man named Alfie—who represents anyone living a shallow, selfish, and unexamined life—to look for a deeper meaning. The singer challenges his “live for the moment” philosophy and ultimately concludes that a life without kindness and true love is not really a life at all, but just a hollow existence. In this article, we explore the meaning of this song, breaking down its metaphors and emotions.
This timeless classic was written by the legendary songwriting duo Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Cher’s 1966 recording was featured in the American release of the film of the same name, Alfie. Her emotional and questioning performance perfectly captures the spirit of the song. It feels like a genuine conversation, a soft but firm challenge from a person who believes that love is the only true answer to life’s biggest questions.
Questioning a Life Lived Only for the Moment
The song opens with a direct and profound question: “What’s it all about, Alfie? / Is it just for the moment we live?” The singer is not making small talk; she is asking about the entire point of human existence. By addressing “Alfie,” she is speaking to a specific type of person—someone who is charming and popular but who lives a shallow life, moving from one fleeting pleasure to the next without thinking about the consequences.
She pushes him to think more deeply about his actions. “What’s it all about when you sort it out, Alfie?” she asks. She wants him to stop and really consider the foundation of his life. She then presents him with a fundamental moral choice: “Are we meant to take more than we give? / Or are we meant to be kind?” This question is the heart of the song’s challenge. It asks whether life is about selfishly taking what you can, or about being kind and contributing to the lives of others.
The Wisdom of Being Kind
The second verse explores the cynical point of view that often justifies selfish behavior. “And if only fools are kind, Alfie / Then I guess it is wise to be cruel,” she says. She presents this cold philosophy as if she is considering it, but she is really showing Alfie how empty it sounds. She is holding up a mirror to his own possible beliefs to show him how wrong they are.
She continues to challenge this worldview by questioning the idea that life is only about power. “And if life belongs only to the strong, Alfie / What will you lend on an old golden rule?” she asks. If life is just “survival of the fittest,” then what value does a timeless moral principle like the “golden rule” (which says to treat others as you want to be treated) really have? By asking this, she is defending kindness and empathy, suggesting that these are the things that have real, lasting worth, far more than temporary strength or power.
A Belief That Goes Beyond Religion
The bridge of the song is where the singer begins to build her own answer to the questions she has posed. She starts from a place of personal faith, saying, “As sure as I believe there’s a heaven above, Alfie / I know there’s something much more.” She uses her belief in heaven as a way to say that she is absolutely certain that there is a deeper meaning to life than just what we can see and touch.
However, she makes it clear that this deeper meaning is not just for religious people. She calls it “Something even non-believers can believe in.” This is a very important and beautiful line. She is saying that the great truth she is about to reveal is not about a specific god or religion, but is a universal human truth that is available to everyone, no matter what they believe. She is building a bridge between the spiritual and the secular to make her point.
The Simple, Powerful Answer: Love
In the final verse, the singer gives her clear and powerful answer to the great question, “What’s it all about?” Her answer is simple: “I believe in love, Alfie.” This is the “something more” that she is so sure of. It is love that gives life its true meaning.
She explains why this is so important. “Without true love we just exist, Alfie,” she says. This is perhaps the most powerful statement in the song. A life without real, meaningful love is not truly “living”; it is just “existing,” like a plant or a rock. It is going through the motions without any real purpose or joy. She warns him directly, “Until you find the love you’ve missed you’re nothing, Alfie.” This is a stark but kind warning that his current lifestyle, no matter how exciting it seems, will leave him feeling empty.
The song ends on a note of gentle hope. She gives him simple advice: “When you walk let your heart lead the way / And you’ll find love any day, Alfie.” She is telling him that it is not too late to change. If he stops living in his head and starts listening to his heart, he too can find the love that will make his life whole.
The Story Behind The Song
“Alfie” has a fascinating history. The song was written by the iconic American songwriting team of Burt Bacharach (music) and Hal David (lyrics) specifically for the 1966 British film Alfie. The movie starred Michael Caine as the title character, a charming but selfish man in London who uses and discards women without a second thought. The song was written to play over the film’s closing credits, serving as a moral commentary on Alfie’s empty lifestyle, asking the question that he himself was unable to answer: “What’s it all about?”
The story of who would sing the song is also famous. In the United Kingdom, the song was recorded by British pop star Cilla Black and it was a big hit. For the American release of the film, the producers wanted an American voice and chose Cher, who was a huge rising star at the time. Her version, produced by Sonny Bono, was used in the film’s promotion. However, Burt Bacharach himself was never fully happy with Cher’s version and wanted his primary singer, Dionne Warwick, to record it. Dionne Warwick’s version was released as a single and became the definitive, chart-topping hit in the United States. The fact that so many incredible female artists recorded this song is a testament to its profound and timeless message.
Metaphors and Symbolic Language
While “Alfie” is a very direct and philosophical song, it uses certain words and ideas as powerful symbols.
- Alfie (The Character): The character of Alfie is himself a symbol. He represents a whole way of living—a life that is focused on surface-level pleasures, selfishness, and living “just for the moment” without considering a deeper meaning or the feelings of others. The song speaks to him, but it is also speaking to anyone who lives this way.
- The Golden Rule: This is not just a saying; it is used here as a symbol for an entire system of morality based on kindness, empathy, and respect for other people. When the singer asks what value Alfie places on it, she is questioning his entire moral compass.
- Heaven Above: The singer uses the idea of “heaven” as a metaphor for a deeply held, certain belief. She uses it as a jumping-off point to say, “Just as I am sure about this one big thing, I am even more sure about another big thing.” It is a way of expressing absolute certainty.
- “Existing” vs. “Living”: The song creates a powerful symbolic distinction between these two words. “Existing” is presented as a lower form of life—just going through the motions, breathing, eating, sleeping—without any real purpose. “Living,” the song argues, is a higher state that can only be achieved through finding and giving true love. Love is what turns mere existence into a meaningful life.
FAQs
1. Who wrote the song “Alfie”?
The song was written by the legendary American songwriting duo Burt Bacharach (who wrote the music) and Hal David (who wrote the lyrics).
2. What movie is the song “Alfie” from?
The song was written for the 1966 film of the same name, Alfie, which starred the actor Michael Caine.
3. What is the song’s central message?
The song’s central message is that a life lived only for selfish, momentary pleasure is empty and meaningless. The only thing that gives life true purpose and turns mere “existence” into “living” is finding and giving true love.
4. Who had the biggest hit with the song “Alfie”?
While Cher’s version was used for the American film release, the biggest chart hit in the United States was the version by the singer Dionne Warwick. Cilla Black had the hit version in the U.K.
5. Who is “Alfie” in the song?
Alfie is the main character of the movie the song was written for. He is a man who is charming but lives a very shallow and selfish life. In the song, he represents anyone who lives in this way.
6. What does the first line, “What’s it all about, Alfie?”, mean?
This is one of the most famous opening lines in music history. It is a deep, philosophical question asking about the very meaning and purpose of life.
7. What does it mean to “live just for the moment” in the context of this song?
In this song, it means to live a selfish life, seeking only immediate pleasure without thinking about the future, the consequences of your actions, or the feelings of other people.
8. What choice is presented in the line “Are we meant to take more than we give? Or are we meant to be kind?”?
This is the fundamental moral choice of the song: the choice between a selfish life (taking) and a compassionate, loving life (being kind).
9. Why does the singer suggest it might be “wise to be cruel”?
She is not actually suggesting this. She is presenting a cynical worldview that Alfie might believe in—that kindness is for fools—in order to show him how empty and wrong that idea is.
10. What is the “old golden rule”?
The “golden rule” is a very famous ethical principle that says you should “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In simple terms, treat people with the same kindness and respect you would want for yourself.
11. What is the “something much more” that even “non-believers can believe in”?
The “something much more” is love. The singer says this to make it clear that she is not just talking about a religious belief, but a universal human truth that everyone can experience.
12. What is the difference between “living” and “just existing,” according to the song?
According to the song, “existing” is just being alive without purpose. Truly “living” only begins when you find true love and connection, which gives your life meaning.
13. What does it mean that you are “nothing” until you find love?
This is a very strong statement meant to wake Alfie up. It means that without love, a person is emotionally empty and their life lacks true substance or meaning.
14. What advice does the singer give Alfie at the end of the song?
She gives him gentle, hopeful advice: “When you walk let your heart lead the way / And you’ll find love any day.” She is telling him to stop thinking so much and to start feeling, and love will follow.
15. What is the overall tone of the song?
The tone is very gentle, thoughtful, and compassionate. Even though the singer is challenging Alfie, she is doing so from a place of kindness, genuinely wanting him to find happiness.
16. Is the singer angry at Alfie?
No, she does not seem angry. She seems more concerned and a little sad for him. She is trying to guide him toward a better way of living, not condemn him.
17. What does “sort it out” mean in the first verse?
“Sort it out” means to think about something carefully, to analyze it, and to come to an understanding or a conclusion about it.
18. What does she mean by “what will you lend on an old golden rule?”
This is a poetic way of asking, “What value do you place on kindness and morality?” “Lend on” is like asking what something is worth, as if you were lending money against an item’s value.
19. Is this a religious song?
No, not strictly. While it mentions “heaven,” it makes a specific point to say that its main message—the belief in love—is something that even “non-believers” can share. It is more of a spiritual and philosophical song than a religious one.
20. What is the role of the final repetition of Alfie’s name?
Repeating his name at the very end makes the song feel incredibly personal and direct. It’s like a final, soft, and heartfelt plea, making sure he has heard and understood her message.