Valli scored over twenty-five Top-40 hits with The Four Seasons, a handful of Top-40 hits dubbed as a solo act in the late 1960s, one dubbed as The Wonder Who? in 1965, and again as a solo act in the mid to late 1970s. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with The Four Seasons in 1990.
Valli started his singing career in 1952. He cut his first single in 1953 as "Frankie Valley" –-a name he adopted from Jean Valley, his favorite female singer. In the mid-1950s he split up with The Travellers and joined The Variety Trio, which consisted of Tommy DeVito, twin brother Nick, and Hank Majewski. They redubbed themselves The Variatones, and later as The Four Lovers. Under this moniker, they scored a Top 40 hit with "You're the Apple of My Eye" in 1956. After a few more name changes, the group finally settled on The Four Seasons in 1960. About the same time, Valli Italianized his name to its current form. Nick DeVito and Majewski left the group in 1960 or 1961. Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi replaced them.
With Valli as its lead singer, The Four Seasons had a series of hits, including five number one singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Their first chart-topper was "Sherry" in 1962. They scored their final number one single in the U.S. in 1975 with "December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)." The song enjoyed a second run on the U.S. charts in 1994 (credited as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons) when a remixed version hit #14 on the Hot 100.
Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye
Frankie Valli Lyrics
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Hold me each evening by your side
And tell me you'll love me for a million years
If it don't work out, if it don't work out
Then you can tell me goodbye
Sweeten my coffee with a mornin' kiss
Soften my dreams with a sigh
If it don't work out, if it don't work out
Then you can tell me goodbye
If you must go, no, I won't grieve
If you wait a lifetime before you leave
But if you must go, I won't tell you no
Just so we can say that we tried
Tell me you'll love me for a million years
If it don't work out, if it don't work out
Then you can tell me goodbye
But if you must go, I won't tell you no
Just so we can say that we tried
Tell me you'll love me for a million years
Then if it don't work out, and if it don't work out
Then you can tell me goodbye
Then you can tell me goodbye
The lyrics to Frankie Valli's song "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" speak of a deep and undying love that the singer longs to experience with his lover. The song opens with the plea for his lover to kiss him each morning and hold him each evening, promising to love him for a million years. The singer implores his lover to sweeten his coffee with a morning kiss and soften his dreams with a sigh, asking him to promise that he'll love him for a million years. However, the singer acknowledges that sometimes things don't work out, and if that happens, his lover can tell him goodbye.
The song's refrain reiterates the sentiment that the singer is willing to let his lover go if he must. He won't grieve, but he hopes that they will try to make their love work, promising not to stand in the way if his lover decides to leave. The song ends with the reiterated request for his lover to promise him long-lasting love, followed by the knowledge that if things don't work out, his lover can still tell him goodbye.
Overall, the song paints a picture of a love that is both deep and uncertain, as the singer acknowledges the possibility that things might not work out. However, he still expresses an unwavering commitment to his lover and the hope that their love will last a lifetime.
Line by Line Meaning
Kiss me each morning for a million years
Start my day with a loving kiss, and keep doing it for a million years
Hold me each evening by your side
Spend every evening with me, holding me close by your side
And tell me you'll love me for a million years
Promise that you will love me for a very long time, even a million years
If it don't work out, if it don't work out
Acknowledging the possibility that the relationship could fail
Then you can tell me goodbye
If things don't work out, you can leave and say goodbye
Sweeten my coffee with a mornin' kiss
Make my day better with a kiss that sweetens my coffee
Soften my dreams with a sigh
Make my dreams more pleasant with a gentle sigh
After you'd loved me for a million years
After a long time of receiving your love
If you must go, no, I won't grieve
If you have to leave me, I won't be upset or mournful
If you wait a lifetime before you leave
If you decide to stay with me for a very long time before leaving
But if you must go, I won't tell you no
If you have to leave, I won't try to stop you
Just so we can say that we tried
Let's end things in a way that we can at least say we gave it a chance
Then if it don't work out, and if it don't work out
Re-emphasizing that things may not work out
Then you can tell me goodbye
If things don't work out, you can still leave and say goodbye
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LOUDERMILK, JOHN D LOUDERMILK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind