Goodbye
Cold Chisel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

You can drown your days in Valium and brandy
Talkin' to the cat and the dog
And you can shove your cheap french vogue society

Goodbye, goodbye
I won't be comin' back for long

Open up the door Astrid, and don't try to stand in my way
I'm heading for a long long night to a better day
And don't bother offering to drive me to the station

You'd only drive me round the bend
We're comin' to the end, there's nothin' left to say

Overall Meaning

The Cold Chisel's song "Goodbye" narrates the story of a man who has had enough of his current situation with his wife, Astrid. The protagonist of the song demands that she opens the door because he's coming down the stairs, and he's not going to waste any more time. He has spent seven long years giving, taking, and making a little money, saving it along the way. Now, he plans on taking this love to town, which could either mean he plans on leaving Astrid or having an affair. He also instructs Astrid to cry and let the neighbors observe the state of things for the low-down deal that was their marriage.

The man in this song isn't afraid to call Astrid out on her vices and what he sees as her cheap French Vogue society. The protagonist is going, and he won't be coming back for long; he is done with the situation, and there's no going back. He tells Astrid not to bother offering to take him to the station because the relationship has nothing left and is coming to an end, with nothing left to say.

Line by Line Meaning

Open up the door Astrid, cause I'm comin' down the stairs
I am leaving, Astrid. Open the door.

And I ain't gonna listen to no more pissin' around
I am done putting up with your excuses, lies or deceit.

I've had seven long years of give a little, take a little
We've had our ups and downs in this relationship.

Stack a little money away
I've been saving up some money over the years.

And you better believe I'm gonna take this love to town
I am going to start a new chapter in my life and find someone else.

Turn on the tears Astrid, and don't forget to let the neighbours see
I want the world to see what a terrible partner you have been and how much pain you have caused me.

What a low down deal you got when you married me
You made a huge mistake marrying me.

You can drown your days in Valium and brandy
You can use drugs and alcohol to ease your pain.

Talkin' to the cat and the dog
You'll be lonely and talking to your pets because no one else wants to listen.

And you can shove your cheap french vogue society
I don't care about your high society lifestyle or the fancy things you own.

Goodbye, goodbye
I am leaving for good.

I won't be comin' back for long
I have no intention to come back to this relationship.

Open up the door Astrid, and don't try to stand in my way
I am leaving whether you like it or not.

I'm heading for a long long night to a better day
I'm embarking on a journey towards a brighter future.

And don't bother offering to drive me to the station
I don't need your help or your pity.

You'd only drive me round the bend
Being with you has driven me crazy.

We're comin' to the end, there's nothin' left to say
Our relationship has reached its conclusion and there is no need for further discussion.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MITCHELL SCHERR, MITCHELL ALLAN SCHERR, BUTCH WALKER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Cold Chisel produced the canonical example of Australian pub rock, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and they are acknowledged as one of the most popular and successful Australian groups of the period, although this success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to Australia.

The band formed in Adelaide in 1973 as a heavy metal band called Orange around keyboard player Don Walker and original bassist Les Kascmarek and while hard rock remained at the core of their sound Cold Chisel displayed a remarkable versatility. Read Full BioCold Chisel produced the canonical example of Australian pub rock, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and they are acknowledged as one of the most popular and successful Australian groups of the period, although this success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to Australia.

The band formed in Adelaide in 1973 as a heavy metal band called Orange around keyboard player Don Walker and original bassist Les Kascmarek and while hard rock remained at the core of their sound Cold Chisel displayed a remarkable versatility. When Kascmarek left in 1975, Walker became the major creative force of the band. Built around Walker's superb songwriting, the group also featured the dazzling guitar and vocal talents of Ian Moss and the enormously powerful lead vocals of Scottish immigrant Jimmy Barnes.

While typically classified as a hard-driving rock and roll band, the Chisel repertoire included such Australian anthems as the landmark Vietnam War song "Khe Sanh", "Bow River", "Flame Trees" and "Saturday Night", but also included thoughtful ballads like "Choir Girl" (written about the subject of abortion), pop-flavoured love songs like "My Baby" and caustic political statements like "Star Hotel", an attack on the late-70s government of Malcolm Fraser and inspired by a riot at a Newcastle pub. The music was not political in context, however Walker's songs were observations of everyday life within the Australian society and culture. One song from this period, "Misfits", which featured on the b-side to "My Baby", was written in the same vein as Chuck Berry, and was about homeless kids in the suburbs surrounding Sydney.

Cold Chisel weren't just a band, they were a lifestyle for many of their followers, who were known as some of the roughest in the land. This gave Chisel their hard living approach to their music and made them a tough live band as well. More than 30 years after they originally played together, they attract generation after generation of new listeners. This is also evidence of Chisel's dominance of the pub rock era. They are the only Australian band to have sold more records after breakup than before and are among other bands that have become transgenerational. "Khe Sanh" consistently ranks highly in lists of Australia's most popular songs and their music remains a staple of rock station playlists. The Ian Moss song "Never Before" (from the East LP) was chosen by FM rock station 2JJJ (Triple Jay) as the first record played on-air when the station made its transition from AM to FM in 1980.

By 1983 the band had reached the zenith of their career in Australia and with overseas markets reluctant to accept them, Cold Chisel began to disintegrate. Their abortive US sojourn was commemorated in Barnes' excoriating rocker "You Got Nothing I Want" from the Circus Animals album, an emotional volume created from the frustration of the band’s experiences overseas.

Increasing internal tensions and the pressures of touring took their toll and Steve Prestwich -- who was often in conflict with Barnes -- left the band, to be replaced by veteran Australian drummer Ray Arnott (ex Spectrum). Shortly afterward, in 1984, Cold Chisel announced their split and a series of farewell concerts, for which Prestwich re-joined. That tour became a legend in itself and was not without incident when Barnes lost his voice before the Sydney shows, which then had to be rescheduled. The band's final performance was filmed for the documentary concert film The Last Stand, which remains to this day the best-selling concert film of any single Australian act.

In mid 2011 the group announced a series of upcoming concerts.

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Mark Bradtke

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Open up the door Astrid, cause I'm comin' down the stairs
And I ain't gonna listen to no more pissin' around
I've had seven long years of give a little, take a little
Stack a little money away
And you better believe I'm gonna take this love to town
Turn on the tears Astrid, and don't forget to let the neighbours see
What a low down deal you got when you married me
You can drown your days in valium and brandy
Talkin' to the cat and the dog
And you can shove your cheap french vogue society
Goodbye, goodbye . . .
I won't be comin' back for long
Open up the door Astrid, and don't try to stand in my way
I'm heading for a long long night to a better day
And don't bother offering to drive me to the station
You'd only drive me round the bend
We're comin' to the end, there's nothin' left to say