Hard to Say Goodbye
Fate Lyrics


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Today was the end of a dream
As I watched your shadow disappear
Another moment for the memory
As we lose another year

Thought I heard You call my name
But you only said goodbye
Always somewhere we only say goodbye
Going nowhere
We only say goodbye
There's never time to say
All the things we need to say
When it's too late
We can only say goodbye

Tonight I felt your presence again
As we shared the sorrow we've always known
But I heard the distance in your voice
And I knew I was alone

Tried to tell YOU my deepest thoughts
But I only said goodbye

Always somewhere we only say goodbye
Going nowhere
We only say goodbye
There's never time to say
All the things we need to say
When it's too late
We can only say goodbye

Across the miles
Both of us reaching we try
But it's so hard to touch
When we only say goodbye

Always somewhere
We only say goodbye
Going nowhere
We only say goodbye
There's never time to say
All the things we need to say
When it's too late
We can only say goodbye

Always somewhere
We only say goodbye
Going nowhere
We only say goodbye




There's never time to say
All the things we need to say

Overall Meaning

The song "We Only Say Goodbye" by Fates Warning is a heartfelt ballad about the pain of loss and the difficulty of expressing oneself fully before it is too late. The opening lines describe the end of a dream, as the singer watches the shadow of someone they once knew disappear. The loss of this person brings the realization that another year has passed them by, and they are left with only memories. The singer thought they heard this person call their name, but all they can do is say goodbye.


Throughout the song, there is a recurring theme of missed opportunities and unexpressed emotions. The chorus of the song, "Always somewhere we only say goodbye, Going nowhere we only say goodbye, There's never time to say all the things we need to say, When it's too late we can only say goodbye," encapsulates this sentiment. The singer longs to communicate their deepest thoughts and feelings to the person they have lost, but at every turn, they are met with silence or distance.


In the end, the song speaks to a universal truth: that we often take the people we love for granted, and only realize their true value once they are gone. The song serves as a reminder to cherish those around us and to express ourselves fully while we still can.


Line by Line Meaning

Today was the end of a dream
The culmination of a hope that has now died


As I watched your shadow disappear
As you left, I saw the image of you vanish


Another moment for the memory
Another experience that will live on only in our recollections


As we lose another year
As another year slips away from us


Thought I heard You call my name
I believed I heard you call out to me


But you only said goodbye
But instead you bid me farewell


Always somewhere we only say goodbye
We often find ourselves in situations where we must bid adieu


Going nowhere
To no purpose or destination


There's never time to say
We never seem to have the opportunity to express


All the things we need to say
All of the important things that should be communicated


When it's too late
When the moment has passed


We can only say goodbye
We can only offer our farewell


Tonight I felt your presence again
This evening I sensed your existence once more


As we shared the sorrow we've always known
As we encountered the sadness we're familiar with


But I heard the distance in your voice
But I perceived a gap in your vocal intonation


And I knew I was alone
And I comprehended that I was by myself


Tried to tell You my deepest thoughts
Attempted to express my innermost feelings to you


But I only said goodbye
But all that came out was my farewell


Across the miles
Over a great distance


Both of us reaching we try
Both of us attempting to connect


But it's so hard to touch
But it's incredibly tough to make a tangible connection


When we only say goodbye
When our communication is limited to farewells and goodbyes




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MATHEOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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