# Song that you like that are about saying goodbye **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 10, 2018, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732 "2018-10-10T00:05:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/81 "2018-10-12T04:13:33Z")
More Seekers, more Judith: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4X4wCidoUXY/maxresdefault.jpg "Judith Durham (Seekers Version) It's Hard To Leave (Stereo) 1997") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X4wCidoUXY) ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/82 "2018-10-12T20:07:54Z")
Here is one excellent goodbye song - more of a happy breakup song really - by the Mavericks. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-UajuBAUkBs/maxresdefault.jpg "The Mavericks - Dance The Night Away (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UajuBAUkBs) Amanda McBroom - Errol Flynn Mary Chapin Carpenter - Only a dream Sarah McLachlan - Angel Eleanor McEvoy - Only a woman's heart ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/83 "2018-10-12T22:57:40Z")
[Daffodil Lament](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIGZiClZSnQ) – by The Cranberries Because it paints the dismal emptiness you can feel when you realize you’re in a dead relationship, and the incredible lightness you feel when you’re free. [It’s A Dream](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qi2kRhzUV8) – by The Nuns For a less voluntary ‘goodbye’. Because it’s a sucker punch when you grok “It’s the saddest thing I’ve ever seen” is just another way of saying “I never cry harder”. “When you call my name and you’re not there, it’s the saddest thing I’ve ever seen.” That’s a wishful daydream, an impossibility, therefore a nightmare, and the saddest thing. ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/84 "2018-10-13T02:10:11Z")
“I Can’t Make You Love Me If You Don’t” by Bonnie Raitt [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/nW9Cu6GYqxo/maxresdefault.jpg "Bonnie Raitt - I Can't Make You Love Me") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW9Cu6GYqxo) “Help Me Make It Through the Night”, many artists, I’ll go with Sammi Smith [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HonH-w7mGlQ/hqdefault.jpg "Sammi Smith - Help Me Make It Through The Night") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HonH-w7mGlQ) “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” by Glen Campbell [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mUg5p3BncuQ/hqdefault.jpg "Glen Campbell - By The Time I Get To Phoenix") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUg5p3BncuQ) “Neither One of Us Wants to be the First to Say Goodbye” by Gladys Knight and the Pips [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/n_Lh4MFiw08/maxresdefault.jpg "Neither One Of Us Gladys Knight and the Pips") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Lh4MFiw08) “Here Comes Goodbye” by Rascall Flatts [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/17VudJ6lr4k/maxresdefault.jpg "Rascal Flatts - Here Comes Goodbye") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17VudJ6lr4k) ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/85 "2018-10-13T04:20:46Z")
Fleetwood Mac: ‘That’s alright’ ‘Gypsy’ Third Eye Blind: ‘How’s it going to be’ ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/86 "2018-10-13T05:27:52Z")
Thought of another one. “I Will Always Love You”. Both the Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston versions are good. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/87 "2018-10-13T05:51:42Z")
“Goodbye Francine” written by me. It’s the first song I ever wrote, that I perform with current band, about being kicked out of my previous band. (my current bandmate has a great saying - “I’ve been kicked out of more bands than you’ve been in”) ---
**Author:** ![MarvinKitFox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MarvinKitFox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarvinKitFox)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/88 "2018-10-14T13:00:53Z")
Life, and **Death**. "Bright eyes, burning like fire Bright eyes, how can you close and fail? How can the light that burned so brightly Suddenly burn so pale?" ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/89 "2018-10-14T13:26:49Z")
Jerry Jeff’s _Jaded Lover._ \*But we would never agree if we talked all night Things are gettin’ heavy, I’m traveling light Goodbye jaded lover you undercover queen for a day \* Bonnie Raitt’s _Opening Farewell_ _There’s a train every day Leaving either way_ ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/90 "2018-10-14T13:32:12Z")
> [@MarvinKitFox](#): > > Life, and **Death**. > > "Bright eyes, burning like fire Bright eyes, how can you close and fail? How can the light that burned so brightly Suddenly burn so pale?" Thanks for getting me all teary-eyed during breakfast, **Marvin_Homba_**! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/91 "2018-10-14T14:32:33Z")
Saddest of all - _[When She Loved Me](https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=when+she+loved+me+toy+story&view=detail&mid=1808B4C8E0084AAFABF61808B4C8E0084AAFABF6&FORM=VIRE)_. See also _[A Boy and His Frog](https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=a+boy+and+his+frog&view=detail&mid=B48503332CEE2DD86C4DB48503332CEE2DD86C4D&FORM=VIRE)_ - a farewell to Jim Henson. > [@](#): > > _Anyone can do that, > And that’s true, I suppose. > But who else could make us believe?_ Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Royal\_Nonesutch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecb155/32.png) [@Royal\_Nonesutch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Royal_Nonesutch)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/92 "2018-10-14T14:46:45Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Joe Cocker did a[nice version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwQDgUlNOHM)of that one. All guitar lovers need to check out the Tedeschi Trucks Band cover this one, there are several blistering versions available on YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![wanderer2575](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2acd7d/32.png) [@wanderer2575](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wanderer2575)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/93 "2018-10-14T15:27:36Z")
> [@Sefton](#): > > [Time](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhRzORqNa0E) - Alan Parsons Project I’ll see you and raise you [Old and Wise](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiE1KUS-pAM), also by the APP. Brings a tear to my eye every time I hear it. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/94 "2018-10-14T16:19:15Z")
Already some great ones listed. Here are a couple: [Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ul-cZyuYq4) [Sanford Townsend Band - Smoke From a Distant Fire](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCWVuCCWqzQ) ---
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/95 "2018-10-17T11:43:59Z")
I think this more-or-less qualifies: _He Stopped Loving her Today_ by George Jones: _The Power of Goodbye_ by Madonna: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qJlV0LWwWWg/maxresdefault.jpg "The Power of Good-Bye") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJlV0LWwWWg) ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/96 "2018-10-17T12:32:12Z")
Two suggestions, with different feels: First, there’s Willie Nelson’s deeply messed up “I Just Can’t Let You Say Goodbye”, which starts off plaintive and ends up Jesus Christ Dude: > [@Willie Nelson](#): > > I had not planned on seeing you I was afraid of what I’d do > But pride is strong here am I and I just can’t let you say goodbye > … > The flesh around your throat is pale intended by my fingernails > Please don’t scream and please don’t cry cause I just can’t let you say goodbye > Your voice is still it speaks no more you’ll never hurt me anymore > Death is a friend to love and I cause now you’ll never say goodbye Then there’s the classic Doo-Wop song, “One More Minute”: > [@Weird Al Yankovic](#): > > Well I heard that you’re leavin’ (leavin’) > Gonna leave me far behind (so far behind) > ‘Cause you found a brand new lover > You decided that I’m not your kind (ahh) > So I pulled (I pulled) your name out (name out) of my Rolodex (oh) > And I tore all your pictures in two > And I burned down the malt shop where we used to go > Just because it reminds me of you (dippity dippity doo) > That’s right (that’s right) you ain’t gonna see me cryin’ > I’m glad (I’m glad) that you found somebody new > 'Cause I’d rather spend eternity eating shards of broken glass > Than spend one more minute with you ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/97 "2018-10-17T14:53:05Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > [“who knows where the time goes”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2xODjbfYw8) by Fairport Convention, quite delightful. An excellent choice! I’ll add that FC’s “Farewell, Farewell” is equally touching and beautiful. It was written by Richard Thompson after his GF was killed in a vehicle accident. I had this played at my wife’s funeral. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/98 "2018-10-17T14:54:47Z")
I saw this thread and immediately thought of Springsteen’s “Bobby Jean.” It’s not a great song, but is probably more upbeat about good-byes than most. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/99 "2018-10-17T19:48:25Z")
Speaking of Bobby’s…What about Me and Bobby McGee? ---
**Author:** ![epolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@epolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epolo)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732/100 "2018-10-18T19:00:31Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > I think the singer of [The Parting Glass](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Np_Ud4KA08) is dying (which is one way of saying goodbye…) Could be. I suspect most “goodbye songs” could be interpreted that way. Probably because all goodbyes have an evocation of death in them anyway. That’s why they’re so poignant. Another one that I don’t think I saw yet in this thread: The Only Living Boy in New York. “Tom get your plane right on time. I know you’re gonna be fine” Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-that-you-like-that-are-about-saying-goodbye/822732.md?page=6)