Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
Cleo Laine & Mel Torme Lyrics
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Every time we say goodbye, I wonder why a little,
Why the Gods above me, who must be in the know.
Think so little of me, they allow you to go.
When you're near, there's such an air of spring about it,
I can hear a lark somewhere, begin to sing about it,
There's no love song finer, but how strange the change from major to minor,
Every time we say goodbye.
When you're near, there's such an air of spring about it,
I can hear a lark somewhere, begin to sing about it,
There's no love song finer, but how strange the change from major to minor,
Every time we say goodbye.
The lyrics of Cleo Laine & Mel Torme's song "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" express the pain and confusion experienced by the singer every time they have to say goodbye to their loved one. The phrase "Every time we say goodbye, I die a little" implies that the separation takes a toll on the singer, causing them to feel a little less alive each time. They also wonder why they have to part ways, questioning why the gods above them would allow it to happen.
The presence of the loved one is associated with the emergence of spring, symbolizing a time of renewal and growth. However, the tone changes from major to minor every time they have to say goodbye, indicating a shift from happiness and hope to sadness and despair. The juxtaposition between the upbeat melody and the melancholic lyrics creates a poignant emotional impact on the listener.
Overall, the lyrics of "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" convey a sense of heartache and longing, leaving the listener with a bittersweet feeling of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time we say goodbye, I die a little,
Whenever we have to part ways, it feels as though a part of me is dying in that very moment.
Every time we say goodbye, I wonder why a little,
Every time we bid goodbye, I can't help but wonder why it has to end this way.
Why the Gods above me, who must be in the know.
I often ponder on why the divine powers above me, who are supposed to be all-knowing, allow us to part ways.
Think so little of me, they allow you to go.
It hurts to think that the divine believes so little of me, that they easily allow the person I love to go away from my life.
When you're near, there's such an air of spring about it,
Whenever I'm in your midst, there's a fresh and invigorating presence around us, almost like the air of springtime.
I can hear a lark somewhere, begin to sing about it,
The melody of our love is so infectious that I can hear a lark's sweet tune somewhere, inspired by our love.
There's no love song finer, but how strange the change from major to minor,
Our love is truly incomparable to any other love story, but sadly it always ends with a minor chord, making it sound out of tune.
Every time we say goodbye.
Regardless of how much it hurts, we always end up saying goodbye, never knowing when we'll say hello again.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
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