The "Still Alive" Credits Song From Portal

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The Portal Ending Song : GLaDOS' Report

"Still Alive" is the song that plays in the credits of the computer and Xbox game Portal from Valve. It is sung by Ellen McLain as GLaDOS - the AI who narrates much of the game and becomes increasingly insane, and is finally destroyed by the player (playing the character of Chell).

The singing is computerised, and sounds eerie and cannot be replicated by a human voice. It was written by Jonathon Coulton. It is especially eerie as GLaDOS was apparently destroyed... and yet she's singing about being 'still alive'.

This song has spawned dozens of parodies, gazillions of quotes, signatures and taglines, and is instantly recognised by anyone who has played Portal - as well as much of the wider internet community. Me and my brother used to sing it endlesly around the house and I bet we're not the only ones! Jonathan Coulton returned for Portal 2 with the credits song "Want You Gone!"

Are You Familiar With This Song?

Can you sing along?

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Listen to Still Alive

Portal - Credits Song 'Still Alive'
by OverTheGun | video info

102,624 ratings | 14,928,788 views
curated content from YouTube

Download "Still Alive" MP3 Here!

Written by Jonathan Coulton, for the credits of Portal

1. Jonathan Coulton & GLaDOS (the game credits version)
2. Sung by Jonathan Coulton
3. Jonathan Coulton & Sara Quinn
4.Orchestral version by Alice Zoë Bevan-McGregor
5. Orchestra Tribute to Jonathan Coulton and Portal by Walt Ribeiro

You can buy the Mp3 for only $0.89!

Lyrics Quiz: How Well Do You Know The Still Alive Lyrics?

See if you can get the next line right!

How did you score? Do you get cake?

Science To Do - Portal ShirtWear the t-shirt and hold sing-alongs with your friends. Use it to get friends if you haven't got any.

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Still Alive - Original Portal Ending

The credits from the game itself

Portal - Credits Song 'Still Alive'
by OverTheGun | video info

102,624 ratings | 14,928,788 views
curated content from YouTube

Still Alive Singalong

Good quality and sing-a-long words!

Portal - Still Alive with lyrics
by NCreature | video info

9,332 ratings | 1,173,584 views
curated content from YouTube

As they burned it hurt because I was so happy for you!

Now these points of data make a beautiful line. And we're out of beta. We're releasing on time!

The Lyrics of "Still Alive"

What are they? And what do they mean?

This was a triumph.
I'm making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS.
It's hard to overstate my satisfaction.
Aperture Science
We do what we must
because we can.
For the good of all of us.
Except the ones who are dead.


GLaDOS was created by Aperture Science. She also says (rather than sings) these lines when activated in Portal: Prelude (a downloadable mod), before killing everyone. The first couple of lines are actually said by scientists overseeing her activation.

But there's no sense crying over every mistake.
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
And the Science gets done.
And you make a neat gun.
For the people who are still alive.


The gun here is the Portal Gun - a very fun toy around which the entire game revolves, which opens portals into walls and floors. GLaDOS is also still following her programming - research for the benefit of her original creators (until she killed them, anyway).

I'm not even angry.
I'm being so sincere right now.
Even though you broke my heart.
And killed me.
And tore me to pieces.
And threw every piece into a fire.
As they burned it hurt because I was so happy for you!


Here GLaDOS is very subtly referring to the fact that you (as Chell) fought her and threw her personality core into the incinerator. Even though she always promised she was on your side, and if you only did as you were told, you could have some nice cake.

Now these points of data make a beautiful line.
And we're out of beta.
We're releasing on time.
So I'm GLaD. I got burned.
Think of all the things we learned
for the people who are still alive.


GLaD = a pun on her name, GLaDOS (Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System)
In theory, the Aperture Science Enrichment Centre was developed to perform experiments and learn things. Then GLaDOS took over... but she's still programmed for research, unfortunately.

Go ahead and leave me.
I think I prefer to stay inside.
Maybe you'll find someone else to help you.
Maybe Black Mesa
THAT WAS A JOKE.
HAHA. FAT CHANCE.


'Outside' is apparently a wasteland (apparently because we only have GLaDOS' word for it).
Black Mesa are a rival research group to Aperture Science Laboratories and are the main focus of Valve's Half Life games. 'Outside' is the setting for these games.

Anyway, this cake is great.
It's so delicious and moist.
Look at me still talking
when there's Science to do.

The reference to cake 'so delicious and moist' in the song harkens back to the constant promises of cake GLaDOS makes to Chell, which spawned the meme 'the cake is a lie'.

When I look out there, it makes me GLaD I'm not you.


A terrible pun on her name and another reference to how horrible it is outside of the Enrichment Centre.

I've experiments to run.
There is research to be done.
On the people who are still alive.
And believe me I am still alive.
I'm doing Science and I'm still alive.
I feel FANTASTIC and I'm still alive.
While you're dying I'll be still alive.
And when you're dead I will be still alive.
STILL ALIVE


In hindsight, it's probably not entirely unexpected that GLaDOS turns up again hundreds of years later, in Portal 2. If this isn't a classic "I'll be back!" then nothing is.

Still Alive by Jonathan Coulton and sung by Ellen McLain (GLaDOS, TF2 Announcer, HL2 Overwatch Administrator)

Personnel File Addendum Addendum

One last thing: "Go ahead and leave me. I think I prefer to stay inside. Maybe you'll find someone else to help you. Maybe Black Mesa... THAT WAS A JOKE. (<i>HA HA</i>) FAT CHANCE. Anyway this cake is great. So delicious and moist."

Still Alive: The Credits

Personnel File Addendum: Dear <Subject Name Here>.... [Portal Ending Credits]

"I'm not even angry. I'm being so sincere right now. Even though you broke my heart. And killed me. And tore me to pieces. And threw every piece into a fire"

The song plays in the credits as an addendum on the personnell file that GLaDOS is entering into the database - the real credits are arolling in the right-hand box, the lyrics appear line by line on the left, and the pixel-image (made up of symbols) changes to match the lines of the song.

Here, the flames are to "...and threw every piece into a fire"

Extracting the "Still Alive" Music From Portal GFC Files

If you own Portal, you can extract the "Still Alive" Mp3 yourself.

You will have to explore the Portal files. If you go into the directory and dig around... you'll find the GCF (Grid Cache Files) that Steam tends to use. You will need an extraction program such as GFCScrape. (More about this from the Valve Developer Community here)

    Part 1: Find the File

  1. Find Directory: \Steam\steamapps\*

  2. This should contain two large files: "portal english.gcf" and "portal content.gcf"




    Part 2: Extract and Save the Mp3 File
  1. Download GFCScrape & install (or any other GFC editor/browser)

  2. Start GFCScrape

  3. File => Open

  4. Navigate to your Steam installation directory (e.g. C:\Program Files\Steam)

  5. Open the directory "steamapps" (e.g. C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps)

  6. Open the file "portal content.gcf"

  7. Within GFCScrape, navigate to: root\portal\sound\music\

  8. Drag and drop the file "portal_still_alive.mp3" to your desktop or mp3 directory

Jonathan Coulton Sings "Still Alive"

Live versions of the song from Jonathan Coulton

Jonathan Coulton was the writer of "Still Alive" - as well as "Want You Gone" in Portal 2!

Here are two videos of him singing accompanied by his guitar, as well as a new version featuring him and Sarah Quinn, which is available on his new album Artificial Heart
Jonathan Coulton w/ Sara Quin and Dorit Chrysler (theremin) - Still Alive (Official Video)
by jcoulton | video info

1,754 ratings | 89,470 views
curated content from YouTube

Artificial Heart - An Album From Jonathon Coulton

Artificial Heart

Jonathon Coulton and Felicia Day Sing 'Still Alive'

Felicia Day is the main lead of 'The Guild'

The Guild

Jonathan Coulton and Felicia Day Still Alive at PAX 2008
by sepiolida | video info

4,045 ratings | 446,257 views
automatically generated by YouTube

"Still Alive" Piano Tutorials

Learn to play "Still Alive" on piano!

Download the Piano Sheet Music for "Still Alive" here!

(four page PDF file)
...or have a look at some of the other piano sheet music for Still Alive below
Part 1 Still Alive Piano Tutorial
by flashcat7777 | video info

150 ratings | 18,825 views
automatically generated by YouTube

Still Alive - Trombone Trio Arrangement

Because the piano wasn't impressive enough...

You can download the Trombone Sheet Music from 4shared under 'Trombones'

Direct links:
MIDI
MUS (Finale)

Still Alive -- Trombone Trio Arrangement
by NSZachP | video info

72 ratings | 23,635 views
curated content from YouTube

"Still Alive" in Rock Band!

You can download this song to play in Rock Band and Rock Band 2

Here's a really awesome video of Jonathon Coulton and guest-rockers Leo Laporte, Veronica Belmont, and Merlin Mann, trying to sing along to "Still Alive" on stage, on Rock Band at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Not only does it 'FAIL" him a few times, the entire audience joins in!

You can download "Still Alive" for Rock Band here FREE!

Available for Xbox 360 and PS3 (I think)

Jonathan Coulton live, performing Still Alive in RockBand
by kfury | video info

1,157 ratings | 239,606 views
curated content from YouTube

Pre-order Rock Band 3

Platform: Xbox 360 (and others)

Rock Band 3

Amazon Price: $25.49 (as of 06/04/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $19.99

If you get this (or the older version) you can download Still Alive for free and play it endlessly. Until you run out of cake.

Release Date: 10/26/2010

Guitar Hero 3 - Still Alive

Portal's "Still Alive" as performed on Guitar Hero 3 PC.

Guitar Hero 3 - Still Alive (PORTAL SONG)
by Boozedog611 | video info

1,138 ratings | 402,999 views
curated content from YouTube

Still Alive Parodies

Parodies of the famous song!

Still a Lie (Portal, Still Alive parody)
by godlesswonder | video info

2,773 ratings | 130,052 views
curated content from YouTube

Japanese Version of "Still Alive"


Created with Vocaloid 2 Speech Synth software by sm1577871 on smilevideo.

This is a direct stream copy from the source: 2 channels, 32kbps, 44.1khz (the video here is mono).

Still Alive (Portal ending song) in Japanese
by flatfacex | video info

5,441 ratings | 888,613 views
curated content from YouTube

Other Awesome Geeky Versions of "Still Alive"

Re-enactments, typography, 8-bit, Mario Paint and music videos!

Several other people have re-enacted and recreated Still Alive in various entertaining and geeky ways - from composing the music in other programs, to delightful little flash videos, such as the one from VGCats.
8080 Still Alive Take 2
by 256byteram | video info

1,348 ratings | 102,854 views
curated content from YouTube

Other Portal Soundtracks

Portal Prelude - Credits Song 'In The Beginning'
by pinheadenator | video info

89 ratings | 31,119 views
curated content from YouTube

Who's Singing About "Still Alive"?

A quick scan of the blogs to see what turns up...

Custom-made Aperture Science gas mask will make sure you're still alive, won't ...
By Jon Fingas posted May 25th 2012 5:17AM Valve's Portal series has been used as the pretext for many achievements outside of puzzle gaming, including getting hitched. Keeping you from shuffling off this mortal coil, however, is still new.
S&P Capital IQ Equity Research Group Announces Q2 2012 Webinar: "Where Are ...
Is the bull market in stocks still alive? Do we finally have a bottom in gold? What US and international equity ETFs are best positioned to benefit from secular trends for the rest of 2012? How important should an ETF's past performance be in sorting ...
Quantum Conundrum E3 Trailer
If you'd like a clearer idea of what Airtight Games' upcoming XBLA dimension-hopping puzzler Quantum Conundrum may entail, imagine if the test chamber puzzling from Portal: Still Alive (and of course Portal 2) and Elizabeth's ability to manipulate ...
A Closer Look at the Upcoming Animated Portal Short
The shots bring the protagonist Chell to life, infusing the mute, determined queen of the portal gun with warmth and humanity. "Well, of course, the game is phenomenal, and I was obsessed with the sequel the instant it was announced," said Zemke via ...

More Awesome Geek Game Music

Original fan songs from geeky musicians!

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Are You Still Alive?

And was the cake untrue?

  • CrazySnake513 Jan 3, 2012 @ 2:16 pm | delete
    Great song. I still remember hearing ir for the first time after beating the game.
  • mrsphillips200 May 29, 2011 @ 11:26 pm | delete
    LOL, love playong this song on the ukulele!
  • chemknitsblog Apr 1, 2011 @ 4:17 pm | delete
    I heard this song quite a bit as my physicist was playing it (he's working on real portals for me. I expect them any day now!)
  • massivedynamic Jul 24, 2010 @ 9:55 pm | delete
    I love this song. I bought the Orange Box soundtrack just to listen to it. Awesome lens!

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The Orange Box (Original Soundtrack) 

Download "Still Alive" or everything!

The Orange Box (Original Soundtrack)

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 06/04/2012)Buy Now

The soundtrack to the year's most varied video compilation, Valve's The Orange Box, is in itself a nuanced and varied listen. The three core games that make up The Orange Box are as different as can be.

The tracks from Half Life 2 Episode One and Episode Two continue HL2's tradition of pumping industrial rock that gets Gordon Freeman from one battle to the next.

Next, Team Fortress 2. In line with the goofy, cartoonish art and gameplay, the theme is gleefully exaggerated and fun. Also, those familiar with the Team Fortress 2 trailers will instantly recognize the TF2 Soldiers' Rocket Jumping Waltz.

Finally, you get two versions of Portal's end theme, Still Alive, a wonderfully playful yet sinister ditty by Jonathan Coulton and Aperture Science's supercomputer, GlaDOS.

If you own The Orange Box, you owe it to yourself to get this album. [Amazon Review]

The Orange Box by Valve : Five Games, One Box 

Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Portal, Team Fortress 2

The Orange Box

Amazon Price: $11.54 (as of 06/04/2012)Buy Now

More Famous Portal Features 

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