Smokie "Living Next Door To Alice"

"Living Next Door to Alice" was originally released by the Australian vocal harmony trio New World in 1972 when the song charted at # 35 on the Australian chart. In November 1976, the English glam rock band Smokie released their version of the song. That song charted at No. 5 on the UK chart and, in March 1977, reached No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was a Number One hit in The Netherlands.

The song is about a young man's long-standing crush on Alice, the girl next door and neighbor of 24 years, which is left unrequited after she moves away. The protagonist had seen a limousine parked at Alice's home and begins to reflect on childhood memories and his friendship with Alice, and becomes heartbroken as he sees Alice get inside the limousine. As he watches the car drive out of sight, the protagonist feels angst over two things: 1. Alice leaving without explanation; and 2. That he did not use that second opportunity to express his feelings for her. Another female character in the song is Sally, another longtime neighbor of the main protagonist who is introduced early in the song. In the song's first verse, she reminds the protagonist of Alice's impending departure. Sally, who later tells the man that he now must get over Alice, then states that she is available. But the man — presumably left with Sally, whom he apparently believes is a less-desirable woman than Alice — reaffirms that he'll "never get used to not living next door to Alice." [Wikipedia]