Goodbye To You
Ed Sheeran Lyrics

Hey
An initial expression to get the attention of the listener or recipient.

Can you hear me?
A question to confirm if the listener is able to receive the message.

I just wanted to let you know
A statement expressing the intention to communicate something important.

Hm
An indication of contemplation or uncertainty.

I hope you can hear what I write to you
Expressing a desire for the listener to understand the message being conveyed in written form.

How could I say goodbye to you?
A rhetorical question pondering the difficulty of parting ways with the listener.

When I'm a life that came out of the inside of a life that was inside of you
Acknowledging the interconnectedness between the singer's existence and the listener's role in their creation.

I gotta respect the way you provided food, for the whole fam'
Expressing admiration and appreciation for the listener's dedication in providing sustenance for the entire family.

You came over a moon rush supporting a mar jays old man
Describing the listener's committed efforts to support and care for the artist's grandfather.

Cold double 8, 8 kids bare wheels
Highlighting the challenging circumstances the listener faced, with eight children and limited transportation.

Plus racists full of hatred in your own plant
Acknowledging the listener's resilience in facing discrimination and prejudice within their own community.

3 jobs in a day
Highlighting the listener's tireless work ethic, holding three jobs in a single day.

Rest in life in you working but you were never stress free
Recognizing the listener's dedication to work, but acknowledging that they never experienced a life free from stress.

Just locked in a cage slaving
Describing the listener's feeling of being trapped and enslaved by their circumstances.

They said they were gold in the pavements
Referencing individuals who claimed to be successful or valuable, even though they were not.

But you came and saw the road to amazement
Highlighting the listener's ability to recognize the true path to greatness and experience incredible things.

Broke your heart
Acknowledging the emotional pain and hardship the listener endured.

But still you were prone to last and your sorrow was over fast
Recognizing the listener's resilience in enduring heartbreak and their ability to recover quickly.

I hope you're listening right
Expressing a desire for the listener to pay attention and truly understand the singer's words.

I still think of you every Sunday
Revealing the continued presence of the listener in the artist's thoughts and memories.

No one can top your chicken and rice
Complimenting the listener's exceptional culinary skills, specifically in preparing chicken and rice.

Even through the dark times
Acknowledging the listener's ability to provide support and strength during difficult periods.

You held us all up because your vision was bright
Highlighting the listener's unwavering support and guidance, driven by their optimistic vision.

I knew your strength was your wisdom inside
Recognizing that the listener's true power and resilience stemmed from their internal wisdom.

You never let anyone see your heartache
Acknowledging the listener's ability to conceal their pain and emotional struggles from others.

You just got on with it
Highlighting the listener's ability to handle challenges and carry on without dwelling on their personal hardships.

Anyone tells me that they knew you said you were beautiful
Reflecting on how others describe the listener as beautiful and admirable when talking about them.

And your words you would stand strong with it
Highlighting the listener's resilience and firmness in standing by their words and beliefs.

'Cause they were like warmth on a winter night
Comparing the listener's comforting words to the warmth felt on a cold winter night.

But I was just too young to go on with it
Acknowledging the singer's youthful ignorance and inability to fully understand or appreciate the listener's wisdom.

And there's somethings I could try to do
Expressing the singer's willingness to attempt certain actions or make amends.

But it's an impossible task for me to even try to say goodbye to you
Acknowledging the immense difficulty the artist faces in attempting to bid farewell to the listener.

I couldn't do that, I owe my life to you
Expressing the artist's indebtedness and gratitude towards the listener for their fundamental role in their existence.

And of the pieces of my soul
Referring to the deep emotional connection and attachment the artist has towards the listener.

(Because I need a sign, I hope this pain will heal in time)
Expressing the singer's longing for a sign and their hope that the pain caused by their actions will eventually fade with time.

You know I never want to be alone
Revealing the artist's fear and reluctance to be without the listener's presence and support.

I can see the stars as a cold wind greets the air
Setting the scene of a cold, atmospheric environment where the singer contemplates their emotions and memories.

And will you think of me up there?
Expressing the singer's hope that the listener will remember them and their connection, even in the afterlife.

Can I say goodbye to you?
Questioning the possibility of bidding farewell to the listener.

And paint the stains of the teardrops down my face
Metaphorically describing the act of crying and expressing sorrow through tears.

Or feel the chill of your warm embrace?
Expressing the artist's longing to experience the comforting and loving embrace of the listener once more.

I think you phoney
Admitting the singer's previous belief that the listener was inauthentic or insincere.

I was younger with the knowledge of things that I know now
Reflecting on the singer's past ignorance and acknowledging their increased wisdom and understanding in the present.

I would be by your side when you needed me
Expressing the artist's remorse and stating their commitment to support the listener in times of need, if given the chance.

Instead of asking you 'Nan can I go out?'
Regretting the artist's previous self-centeredness and prioritization of personal desires over their grandmother's needs.

Standing in a road with the gangs that I know now
Contrasting the artist's current affiliations with less desirable groups or individuals, emphasizing their regret for not being present for their grandmother.

Everyone's missing you loads, Jessica's grown up
Highlighting the collective longing and nostalgia for the listener, as well as acknowledging the growth and changes in their family members.

Warreen, Lauren and Alex are fine and I'm living with hope
Updating the listener about the well-being of specific family members and expressing the artist's optimism and resilience.

It's been a while since I've seen C and the mouths
Acknowledging the passage of time since the singer last interacted with certain individuals, named C and the mouths.

I miss seeing a family, being a family
Yearning for the sense of unity and togetherness that comes with being part of a loving family.

And us agreeing with smiles how it used to be as a child
Recollecting the joyous moments of agreement and happiness experienced as children within the family dynamic.

But as time goes by, the bridge seems longer
Reflecting on the perception that the emotional distance between the artist and their family has grown over time.

Family problems have never been funny
Acknowledging the serious nature and impact of family problems or conflicts.

In my heart the only one that dissed me was Sonia
Revealing the hurt caused by a person named Sonia, who betrayed or mistreated the singer in some way.

She took all our inheritance money
Conveying the negative actions of Sonia, who selfishly took away the singer's rightful inheritance.

Left the rest of us to pick up the pieces
Highlighting the fallout caused by Sonia's actions, leaving the remaining family members to deal with the aftermath and rebuild their lives.

I never forgive the way she betrayed us
Expressing the artist's ongoing resentment and inability to forgive the betrayal committed by Sonia.

There ain't a big enough reason
Asserting that no justification or excuse is sufficient to warrant betraying or abandoning one's family.

Before I sell out my fam' I'll be giving up breathing
Expressing the singer's unwavering commitment to their family, stating that they would rather die than betray them.

But I guess that everyone's different
Recognizing that individuals may have varying values and priorities.

Or should I say no one's perfect?
Posing a rhetorical question acknowledging that perfection is unattainable for anyone.

She had happiness in front of her
Noting that Sonia had the opportunity to embrace happiness and fulfillment, but chose a different path.

But chose to ride the wave that no ones surfing
Describing Sonia's decision to follow a path or lifestyle that lacks popularity or widespread acceptance.

Since you're gone the foundations crumbled
Expressing the adverse impact of the listener's absence, with the metaphorical crumbling of the foundations symbolizing the family's disintegration or instability.

So building it back up is my next step
Recognizing the need to rebuild and restore the family's foundation as the artist's primary objective.

I got all the bricks and the cement but
Expressing the singer's preparedness and possession of the necessary resources for reconstructing the family's foundation.

It's hard when it's done, I don't know what to expect
Acknowledging the challenges and uncertainty that arise when attempting to restore the family's stability and dynamics.

So give me the strength that I need to perform this task
Requesting inner strength to tackle the difficult task of rebuilding the family's foundation and restoring their unity.

Make it right, I must do
Expressing the artist's determination and obligation to correct past mistakes and ensure a positive outcome.

And I ask cause I trust you
Seeking assistance and guidance from a higher power or authority figure, based on trust and faith.

It goes way beyond a song when I say I love you
Emphasizing that the depth of love and affection expressed towards the listener extends far beyond the confines of a mere song.

It's just for now so I should hush
Recognizing that the separation from the listener is temporary, prompting the artist to be silent or refrain from prolonged sorrow.

I'll never get enough, I'll see you when I see you but
Expressing the singer's insatiable desire for more time with the listener and the understanding that their reunion will happen in due course, at an undetermined time.

I miss you
Conveying the intense longing and emotional emptiness felt by the singer due to the listener's absence.

Ohh how I miss you
Reiterating the deep and profound yearning for the listener's presence.

There ain't enough words to describe
Asserting the inability to adequately express the depth of the artist's remorse or regret through words alone.

How sorry I am for the pain that I caused
Expressing genuine remorse and apologetic sentiments towards the listener for the pain and suffering the artist brought upon them.

Sorry for when I stuck up my own blood
Apologizing for moments when the singer prioritized their own interests or viewpoints over the well-being of their family.

We were young and he said it was raping his broad
Referring to a past incident involving the singer and another person, where the other person falsely claimed the singer had committed a serious offense against their partner.

And for the day police came to the door
Recalling the distressing incident when the police arrived at the artist's home, likely in response to the aforementioned false accusation.

I'm sorry for being such a bad youth
Expressing regret for the artist's rebellious or troublesome behavior during their younger years.

Stealing from your purse and making you mourn
Acknowledging the hurt caused by the artist's actions of theft and the subsequent sorrow inflicted upon the listener.

I never been able to say this before
Admitting that the singer has never had the opportunity or ability to express these feelings of remorse and apology previously.

'Cause I was so inconsiderate
Recognizing the artist's past self-centeredness and lack of consideration for the listener's feelings.

You loved me unconditionally
Acknowledging the listener's unwavering and unconditional love towards the singer.

And I took advantage of it like a idiot
Expressing regret and self-criticism for the singer's foolish actions of exploiting the listener's love and trust.

Not seeing the pure soul that I was living with
Reflecting on the singer's past inability to fully perceive and appreciate the listener's inherent goodness and purity.

I really hope that you can forgive me
Expressing a sincere desire and plea for the listener's forgiveness.

You going away was a punishment
Conveying the idea that the listener's absence is a form of punishment or consequence for the artist's past behavior.

But I won't let go I'm holding you with me
Asserting the singer's determination to keep the listener's memory and influence close to them, refusing to forget or detach from their presence.

But I still fight the emotions within me
Admitting that the singer continues to struggle with overwhelming emotions and conflicting feelings despite their efforts to move forward.

It's just for now so I should hush
Reiterating the temporary nature of the separation and acknowledging the need for the artist to be silent or suppress their sorrow.

I'll never get enough, I'll see you when I see you but
Emphasizing the insatiable desire for more time together and the understanding that their reunion will happen in the future, even if the exact time is uncertain.

I miss you
Expressing the profound longing and emotional void caused by the listener's absence.

Ohh how I miss you
Repeating the intense yearning and sense of emptiness felt by the singer due to the listener's departure.

There ain't enough words to describe
Reaffirming the inability to fully articulate the depth of the artist's remorse or regret in mere words.

How sorry I am for the pain that I caused
Restating the genuine remorse and apology expressed towards the listener for the pain and suffering inflicted by the singer.

Sorry for when I stuck up my own blood
Continuing to apologize for instances when the singer prioritized their own interests or viewpoints over the welfare of their family.