You'll Never Walk Alone – Gerry & The Pacemakers

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You'll Never Walk Alone – Gerry & The Pacemakers

We lost Gerry Marsden yesterday, this song of his with his band The Pacemakers has played a big part in my life. My Dad is a Liverpool supporter and I associate this song very much with him. The lyrics are so powerful, the message is so supportive, it's a wonderful concept that you'll never be alone. You need to keep going, walk on and keep the hope. The song was iconic amongst football fans, to see the entire Kop stand at Anfield sing this as one sends chills up your spine and puts fear into the opposition. It went to another level when they sang it in tribute to all the 96 fans that died in the Hillsborough tragedy.

I'm sure when Gerry searched this song out he could never thought how iconic it would become. The song is from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel and the words make perfect sense as part of the story, but it takes a bit of belief to take such a song away from it's setting and release it as a pop song. He's voice and passion takes the vocal to such an emotional place and your with him on that journey. The simple backing and sober mood helps this song stand out as such an important piece. When you read the lyrics they couldn't be much simpler but are so caring and positive.

I also remember we played this song at a family party as the last song we heard in the last millennium. Gerry and the Pacemakers were contemporaneous of the Beatles. They played the famous Caven club and had a huge following. I love a couple of their other big hits, I Like It and Ferry Across The Mersey.

Whenever you saw Gerry interviewed he always came across a cheeky Scouser, great sense of humour and a lot of wit. He seemed like a really lovely person and very un pop star like, always humble. Even though he didn't write the words to You'll Never Walk Alone, I think it will always be regraded as he's song at least in the UK, I think it's message has helped many people through tough times. 

RIP Gerry.

Favoutite lyric : When you walk through a storm / Hold your head up high

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