<P> `` You 'll Never Walk Alone '' is a show tune from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel . In the second act of the musical , Nettie Fowler , the cousin of the female protagonist Julie Jordan , sings `` You 'll Never Walk Alone '' to comfort and encourage Julie when her husband , Billy Bigelow , the male lead , commits suicide after a failed robbery attempt . It is reprised in the final scene to encourage a graduation class of which Louise ( Billy and Julie 's daughter ) is a member . The now invisible Billy , who has been granted the chance to return to Earth for one day in order to redeem himself , watches the ceremony and is able to silently motivate the unhappy Louise to join in the song . </P>
when was you 'll never walk alone first released
1945