Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
Dinah Washington (with Quincy Jones) 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 Dinah Washington's "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" express the intense pain and heartbreak someone experiences every time they have to say goodbye to a loved one - in this case, a romantic partner. The line "Every time we say goodbye, I die a little" speaks to the emotional toll of parting ways, indicating that each farewell takes a small piece of the singer's spirit with it. The following line "Every time we say goodbye, I wonder why a little" could suggest that the singer is confused or frustrated with the circumstances that are forcing them apart, or that they are questioning the choices that led them to this painful moment.
The lyrics then shift to a more hopeful tone in the following verse, describing the joy the singer feels when they are with their partner. The line "When you're near, there's such an air of spring about it" implies a sense of freshness, newness, and renewal, as if the world is coming back to life when their loved one is present. The reference to a lark singing creates a beautiful, pastoral image that underscores the idea of joy and springtime. However, the final line of the song "Every time we say goodbye" brings the singer back to reality and the pain of having to let go yet again.
Overall, this song is a poignant and poetic portrayal of the agony of saying goodbye to someone you love, especially someone with whom you have a deep romantic connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time we say goodbye, I die a little,
Each farewell we have takes away a piece of me and feels like I am dying.
Every time we say goodbye, I wonder why a little,
After each goodbye, I can't help but question why we have to endure this pain.
Why the gods above me, who must be in the know.
I can't understand why fate or a higher power would allow us to suffer through the agony of separation.
Think so little of me, they allow you to go.
It feels as if the universe doesn't care about my heartache and lets you leave without a second thought.
When you're near, there's such an air of spring about it,
The feeling of being close to you is like the freshness and joy of spring.
I can hear a lark somewhere, begin to sing about it,
You bring out the beauty and music in the world around us.
There's no love song finer, but how strange the change from major to minor,
Our love song is perfect in its happiness, but it becomes sad and dissonant with each goodbye we say.
Every time we say goodbye.
Each farewell we have brings us more heartache and pain.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind