Tommy James is the stage name of Thomas Gregory Jackson, born on April 29, 1947. In 1959, then known as Tommy Jackson, he formed in Niles, Michigan a band called The Echoes; it became Tom and the Tornadoes, and in 1964 James renamed the band Tommy James and the Shondells. This rock band charted many hits, especially in the USA.
The song “I Think We’re Alone Now,” written by Ritchie Cordell, is the first track and the main single from their album of the same name, the third of three studio albums. Originally released January 5, 1967, it was one of their biggest hits, lasting 17 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100, topping at number 4 in April 1967. It finished at number 12 on Billboard magazine’s year-end singles chart for 1967.
The song tells about two young people who have to hide their love affair from adults. Here is a musical video from YouTube, showing several hits by the band:
Here are the lyrics from Genius:
I Think We’re Alone Now
words & music by Ritchie Cordell
“Children, behave”
That’s what they say when we’re together
“And watch how you play”
They don’t understand
And so we’re running just as fast as we can
Holding on to one another’s hand
Trying to get away into the night
And then you put your arms around me
As we tumble to the ground and then you say
I think we’re alone now
There doesn’t seem to be anyone around
I think we’re alone now
The beating of our hearts is the only sound
Look at the way
We gotta hide what we’re doing
‘Cause what would they say
If they ever knew?
And so we’re running just as fast as we can
Holding on to one another’s hand
Trying to get away into the night
And then you put your arms around me
As we tumble to the ground and then you say
I think we’re alone now
There doesn’t seem to be anyone around
I think we’re alone now
The beating of our hearts is the only sound
I think we’re alone now
There doesn’t seem to be anyone around
I think we’re alone now
The beating of our hearts is the only sound
I think we’re alone now
There doesn’t seem to be anyone around
I think we’re alone now
The beating of our hearts is the only sound
The song was later interpreted by several artists, in particular by Lene Lovich in 1978 and by Tiffany in 1987.