Embracing an effortless eloquence and cocoa butter smooth persona, the music of Brian McKnight has defined the true meaning of an American soul-man since 1991. Like his spiritual Motown godfathers, this upstate New York native has a velvety voice and silky style that captures the vibe of vintage soul without being old fashion. On his latest disc Ten, that blend can be clearly heard.
While Brian’s aspirations might have seemed like a lofty ambition, the longevity of his career is a testament to the purity of his vision. With the release of Ten, McKnight’s first disc for his new label Warner Bros Records, the Grammy-nominated singer could not be more pleased with the outcome. Without a doubt, the landscape of soul music has gotten younger, but that fact did not hinder McKnight’s creative process.
After 16 million albums sold since his self-titled debut, it would have been too easy for McKnight to simply follow the R&B template of rote romanticism. But on Ten, the artist in him felt the need to be more revealing. Though McKnight has been friends with producers Tim & Bob for over ten years, this is the trio’s first collaboration.
Though Brian has never been the kind of singer/songwriter that one would call political that didn’t stop him from penning “Red, White & Blue,” a heart wrenching ode for the men and women currently at war, teaming up with country star Rascal Flatts.
Currently working on a variety of projects including a talk show and soundtracks for two upcoming Tyler Perry projects, the veteran soul singer could not be happier with the outcome of Ten. For fans of real music, Ten is the perfect addition to the soul cannon.
Goodbye
Brian McKnight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girl, I'm gonna miss you so
But I don't want to ever say goodbye
You gotta believe me when I tell you that I don't want to leave
But I'll be thinking about you everywhere that I'm gonna be, but
I'm not gonna ever say goodbye
Not gonna say goodbye
But I gotta leave cause I don't want you to see me cry
I'm not ever gonna let you see me cry
I'mma have to turn away
If I see your face I'll have to stay
But I'm not gonna ever say goodbye
You might not believe me when I tell you that it's so hard to leave
But if I didn't have to go, I wouldn't go, but you might not agree, but
I'm not ever gonna say good goodbye
I'm not gonna say goodbye
Not gonna say goodbye
But I gotta leave
Cause I don't want you to see me cry
I do what I have to do then come back again
But it's so damn hard to sleep without you in my bed
Here is something that I don't ever want you to forget
That you're never off my mind or out of my head
You gotta believe me when I tell you that I don't wanna leave
But I'll be thinking about you everywhere that I'm gonna be, but
(I'm not gonna say)
I'm not gonna say
(I'm not gonna say)
I'm not gonna say
(I'm not gonna say)
I'm not gonna say
(I'm not gonna say)
Never in the morning
(I'm not gonna say)
Never in the evening
(I'm not gonna say)
Never when it's nice outside
(I'm not gonna say)
Never when it's stormy outside, baby
(I'm not gonna say)
Never gonna say it
(I'm not gonna say)
Never gonna say it
(I'm not gonna say)
Never when I'm mad at you
(I'm not gonna say)
Never when I'm glad at you
(I'm not gonna say)
I'm not gonna say it
(I'm not gonna say)
I'm not gonna say it
(I'm not gonna say)
I'm not gonna say it
(I'm not gonna say)
I'm not gonna say it
(I'm not gonna say)
(I'm not gonna say)
I'm not gonna say it
(I'm not gonna say)
Never gonna say it
(I'm not gonna say)
You've got me, you've got me
(I'm not gonna say)
Forever and ever, baby, never
(I'm not gonna say)
I'm never gonna say it
(I'm not gonna say)
I'm never gonna say it
(I'm not gonna say)
Never
(I'm not gonna say)
I'm never gonna say it
Never, never
In Brian McKnight's song "Goodbye," the lyrics convey a sense of reluctance and inner conflict about leaving someone behind. The singer expresses their dislike for leaving and how much they will miss the person, but they refuse to say goodbye. There is a strong desire to maintain a connection and avoid any emotional display, particularly any tears.
The singer acknowledges that they have to turn away to prevent themselves from staying longer if they see the other person's face. They want to leave without saying goodbye to avoid making the separation even more challenging. Despite the difficulty in leaving, the singer emphasizes that if they didn't have to, they wouldn't leave. They hope the listener believes them, even if they might not fully understand.
The lyrics also convey the singer's commitment to returning and keeping the person in their thoughts. They acknowledge the struggle of being without the other person, especially when it comes to sleeping alone. They assure the listener that they are always present mentally, always thinking about the person and keeping them in their thoughts and heart.
The repeating refrain of "I'm not gonna say goodbye" reinforces the singer's determination to avoid uttering those words. They list several situations and emotions when they won't say goodbye, highlighting that no matter the circumstance or feeling, they will not express farewell. The repetition signifies their unwavering stance and solidifies the message that they will never say goodbye.
Overall, the lyrics of "Goodbye" depict a speaker torn between leaving and wanting to stay. They express their commitment and longing for the other person, assuring them that they will always be present in their thoughts and heart. Despite the difficulty, the singer refuses to say goodbye and chooses to hold on to the hope of returning.
Line by Line Meaning
I hate it when I have to go
It's difficult for me when I have to leave
Girl, I'm gonna miss you so
I will deeply miss you
But I don't want to ever say goodbye
I don't want to bid farewell
You gotta believe me when I tell you that I don't want to leave
Please trust me when I say I don't desire to depart
But I'll be thinking about you everywhere that I'm gonna be, but
However, I'll constantly have you on my mind wherever I am going
I'm not gonna ever say goodbye
I will never utter farewell
Not gonna say goodbye
I won't bid farewell
But I gotta leave cause I don't want you to see me cry
Yet, I have to depart because I don't want you to witness my tears
I'm not ever gonna let you see me cry
I will never allow you to see my tears
I'mma have to turn away
I will have to avert my gaze
If I see your face I'll have to stay
If I catch sight of your visage, I'll feel compelled to remain
But I'm not gonna ever say goodbye
Nevertheless, I won't bid farewell
You might not believe me when I tell you that it's so hard to leave
Perhaps you won't trust me when I express how difficult it is to depart
But if I didn't have to go, I wouldn't go, but you might not agree, but
However, if it wasn't necessary for me to leave, I would choose to stay, although you may disagree
I'm not ever gonna say good goodbye
I will never say a farewell filled with sadness
I do what I have to do then come back again
I fulfill my obligations, then return once more
But it's so damn hard to sleep without you in my bed
Yet, it's incredibly difficult for me to rest without you by my side
Here is something that I don't ever want you to forget
I want you to remember this without exception
That you're never off my mind or out of my head
You're always on my mind, constantly present in my thoughts
Never in the morning
Not even in the morning
Never in the evening
Not even in the evening
Never when it's nice outside
Not even when the weather is pleasant
Never when it's stormy outside, baby
Not even when there's a storm brewing, my dear
Never gonna say it
I will never utter those words
Never when I'm mad at you
Not even when I'm angry with you
Never when I'm glad at you
Not even when I'm pleased with you
I'm not gonna say it
I won't say it
I'm not gonna say it
I won't say it
I'm not gonna say it
I won't say it
I'm not gonna say it
I won't say it
You've got me, you've got me
You have me, you truly have me
Forever and ever, baby, never
For eternity, my love, never
I'm never gonna say it
I will never utter those words
I'm never gonna say it
I will never utter those words
Never
Not at all
I'm never gonna say it
I will never utter those words
Never, never
Not ever, under any circumstances
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BRIAN MCKNIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@karenviney5589
My all time favorite artist explores my all time favorite genre (Hawaiian reggae) Its just pushing all my right buttons !!! 😍
@ttoleafoa70
I know its a genre, but I don't believe that there is a separate Hawaiian reggae genre. Its pretty much the same vibe.
@ZeidKhan
Same vibe, but different sound honestly. Jamaican Reggae and Pacific Reggae share a vibe for sure, but yeah, sound different. You could even break Pacific Reggae down further because the sounds vary. Hawaiian Reggae sounds different from Melanesian Reggae for instance. Samoan and Tongan Reggae are often mixed more with American sounds. New Zealand Reggae is similar to Hawaiian Reggae and Fijian Reggae is way slower than any of the other styles.
Gotta love all the island styles though! <3 <3 <3
@thaisdeoli7666
Uau!!!!! A Reggae. Brian, you surprise me every song!
@yuchejacobs639
Brilliant song!!!!!!
@sexytissa1
My favorite song 😍
@basilbooysen5650
I love this song.
@Rayzajw
I think FIRE!!! Brian McKnight you are a beast.
@MrBlactye
I really 💘 the fell to this song.
@gutimar0328
Why am i JUST finding out about this 💕