History
The band was formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1965 named simply "The Heywoods", not after anyone in the band or connected with it, but from the last name of a songwriter on a Rolling Stones album because they liked the sound of the name.
They were first discovered while touring with The Osmonds in the early 1970s and signed with Family Productions, releasing their first song in 1972, "Special Someone", but their big break came after moving to ABC Records and working with star producer Steve Barri in 1973. Beginning in 1974, the band released the songs "Billy Don't Be A Hero", "Who Do You Think You Are", "The Heartbreak Kid" and "Our Last Song Together".
Endgame
In 1975, they began migration to a 3rd, 4th and 5th label as the hits dried up by the end of the decade. By 1978, they were known as "The Bo Donaldson Band" and eventually split after trying Country music with no success in the 1980s. They reformed again in 1996 as a nostalgia act and still make appearances, most notably in the Barry Williams-hosted nostalgia show Original Idols Live.
Members
Robert Walter "Bo" Donaldson - Keyboards
Mike Gibbons - Lead Vocals & Trumpet
David Krock - Bass & background vocals
Rick Joswick - Lead singer and tambourine
Gary Coveyou - Saxophone, flute & Background Vocals
Baker Scott- Lead Guitarist
Richard Brunetti - Drums
Don't Ever Look Back
Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we thought our song would never end
But nothing good last forever so don't cry
It's useless to pretend
It's time to break good chains
Go our separate ways
So turn around and leave me
And make it easy
Hey, don't ever look back
Cause yesterday's behind you
Girl, don't ever look back
Cause someone wants to find
You run to him
We almost make it together
Almost make it till the end of time
But nothing good last forever
And it's so, so hard to cry goodbye
You know the longest trip
Starts with just one step
And if you never take it
You'll never make it
Hey, don't ever look back
Cause yesterday's behind you
Girl, don't ever look back
Cause someone wants to find
You run to him
You've got sunshine
You've got flowers
And the wind that's in your hair
It's a long, long road before you
With every step there is a tear
But when the wind gets you down
You've just catching around
Hey, don't ever look back
Cause yesterday's behind you
Girl, don't ever look back
Cause someone wants to find
You run to him.
The lyrics to Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods's song "Don't Ever Look Back" depict the end of a relationship and an optimistic outlook on the future. The opening lines "We used to sing in the sunshine/And we thought our song would never end" suggest a happy, carefree time. However, the chorus "Don't ever look back/ Cause yesterday's behind you/ Girl, don't ever look back/ Cause someone wants to find/ You run to him" encourages the listener to move forward and not dwell on the past. The lyrics acknowledge the pain of ending a relationship with lines like "But nothing good last forever and it's so, so hard to cry goodbye." Yet, they also urge the listener to take the first step towards a better future with lines like "You know the longest trip/ Starts with just one step/ And if you never take it/ You'll never make it."
The imagery in the lyrics, such as "You've got sunshine/ You've got flowers/ And the wind that's in your hair," paint a picture of a bright and hopeful future. This is reinforced in the final lines of the song "But when the wind gets you down/ You've just catching around." Here, the wind can be interpreted as a metaphor for life's challenges. Instead of being defeated, the listener is urged to persevere.
Line by Line Meaning
We used to sing in the sunshine
We experienced joy and happiness in the past
And we thought our song would never end
We believed our happiness would last forever
But nothing good last forever so don't cry
All good things eventually come to an end, there is no need to be upset about it
It's useless to pretend
There is no point in trying to avoid facing reality
It's time to break good chains
We need to break free from things that hold us back
Go our separate ways
We need to move on and pursue different paths
So turn around and leave me
Let us part ways and move on
And make it easy
Let us make the separation as smooth as possible
Hey, don't ever look back
Do not dwell on the past
Cause yesterday's behind you
The past is over and cannot be changed
Girl, don't ever look back
Moving forward is the only way to find happiness
Cause someone wants to find you run to him
There is someone out there who is searching for you, and you should go to him
We almost make it together
We were close to accomplishing our goals together
Almost make it till the end of time
We came close to achieving permanent happiness together
But nothing good last forever
Positive experiences eventually come to an end
And it's so, so hard to cry goodbye
The pain of saying goodbye can be overwhelming
You know the longest trip
The journey ahead of us will be long
Starts with just one step
Success in the future begins with taking action in the present
And if you never take it
If you do not start your journey towards the future
You'll never make it
You will not achieve your goals
You've got sunshine
You have potential for happiness
You've got flowers
You have beautiful experiences ahead of you
And the wind that's in your hair
The future is full of unknown possibilities
It's a long, long road before you
The journey towards the future will be difficult and lengthy
With every step there is a tear
There will be heartache along the way
But when the wind gets you down
When you feel defeated
You've just catching around
You must pick yourself up and keep moving forward
Writer(s): Dan Walsh, M. Bottler, H. Price
Contributed by Jayden I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.