Leaving On A Jetplane
Emily McEwan Lyrics


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All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I'm standing here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin' it's early morn
The taxi's waitin' he's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could die

So kiss me and smile for me; tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go.
i hate to go

There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around
I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
Every place I go, I'll think of you
Every song I sing, I'll sing for you
When I come back I'll bring your wedding ring

So kiss me and smile for me; tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go.
i hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you
One more time, let me kiss you
Then close your eyes, I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times I won't have to say

oh kiss me and smile for me; tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again




Oh, babe, I hate to go.
i hate to go

Overall Meaning

Emily McEwan's song "Leaving On A Jetplane" narrates the bittersweet moment of leaving a loved one behind to go somewhere uncertain. As the song opens, the singer is all packed and ready to leave, but she is apprehensive about waking up her love to say goodbye. The lyrics reflect the singer's mood as she reminisces about the good times shared with her lover and how deeply she will miss him while she is away. She is already pining for his company as she boards the taxi waiting outside her door.


The song's chorus is a plea from the singer to her lover to stay true to her and wait for her. She asks him to hold her tight and tells him how much she hates to go. Her lyrics are straightforward and honest as she admits to having let him down in the past but promises to bring his wedding ring upon her return. The bridge is a moment of closure and a final reminder to the lover to dream of the future when they won't have to be apart.


The song's emotion is palpable, and McEwan's voice captures the sadness of long-distance separation, but the lyrics also hold a promise of a future when the two will reunite.


Line by Line Meaning

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I have finished packing for my trip and am fully prepared to leave


I'm standing here outside your door
I am currently located just outside your front door


I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
I am sorry that I have to disturb you from your sleep to say farewell


But the dawn is breakin' it's early morn
It is now early in the morning as the sun is starting to rise


The taxi's waitin', he's blowin' his horn
The taxi that I have hired is waiting for me, and the driver is signaling that he is ready to go by blowing his horn


Already I'm so lonesome I could die
I am already feeling incredibly lonely and sad at the prospect of leaving you behind


So kiss me and smile for me, tell me that you'll wait for me
Please give me a goodbye kiss and smile, and promise that you will wait for me


Hold me like you'll never let me go
Hug me tightly as if you never want to let me go


'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
I am departing on an airplane


Don't know when I'll be back again
I am uncertain when I will be returning


Oh, babe, I hate to go
I really do not want to leave you


There's so many times I've let you down
I have disappointed you so many times before


So many times I've played around
I have acted unfaithfully on numerous occasions


I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
I want to assure you that those past mistakes do not matter to me anymore


Every place I go, I'll think of you
No matter where I travel to, you will always be on my mind


Every song I sing, I'll sing for you
Every time I sing, I will do so with you in my thoughts


When I come back I'll bring your wedding ring
When I return, I promise to bring you an engagement ring to show my commitment to you


Now the time has come to leave you
It is now time for me to depart from you


One more time, let me kiss you
Let me kiss you one more time before I go


Then close your eyes, I'll be on my way
Shut your eyes now, and by the time you open them, I will have already left


Dream about the days to come
Think about the future we will share together


When I won't have to leave alone
When we will be able to travel together instead of me leaving alone


About the times I won't have to say
About the times I will not have to say goodbye again


Oh, babe, I hate to go
I still really do not want to leave you




Contributed by Mila O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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