After You
Gene Harris / Scott Hamilton Quintet Lyrics
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How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Don't say that we must part,
Don't break your baby's heart
You know I've loved you for these many years,
Loved you night and day,
Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
After you've gone and left me cryin'
After you've gone there's no denyin'
You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
Someday, when you grow lonely
Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
After you've gone, after you've gone away
After you've gone and left me cryin'
After you've gone there's no denyin'
You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
You're gonna feel bad
And you'll miss, and you'll miss,
And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
But baby, think what you're doin'
I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so
It's gonna drive you to ruin
After you've gone, after you've gone away.
The song "After You" is a classic jazz tune by the Gene Harris / Scott Hamilton Quintet, with lyrics that express the pain of a broken heart due to a beloved leaving. The lyrics begin with a plea to the one leaving, asking him or her not to break the singer's heart and to listen to the tears of the singer. The lyrics foresee the sadness that the beloved will feel after leaving and that, in time, the beloved will realize the mistake of leaving. It is said that the song describes Gene Harris' actual break up, which makes it even more poignant.
The chorus of the song expresses the ultimate outcome of the beloved's departure. They will feel blue, sad and miss the singer, the best pal they ever had. The lyrics repeat that there will come a time when the beloved will regret leaving and that they will grow lonely and their heart will break like the singer's. At the end of the lyrics, there is a haunting image that the singer will "haunt and taunt" the beloved and "drive them to ruin."
Overall, "After You" is a song that expresses the sadness and pain of a broken heart and the hope that the beloved will return before it is too late. It is a classic jazz ballad that stands the test of time and speaks to the universal human experience of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Now won't you listen honey, while I say,
Please pay attention to me, my love
How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Why did you have to say that you're leaving me?
Don't say that we must part,
Please don't suggest that we have to break up
Don't break your baby's heart
Please don't hurt me like this
You know I've loved you for these many years,
I have been in love with you for all this time
Loved you night and day,
I have loved you constantly
Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
My tears show how much I love you, please notice them
Listen while I say
Please hear me out
After you've gone and left me cryin'
Once you leave me and make me cry
After you've gone there's no denyin'
There's no denying that you're really gone
You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
You'll feel depressed and down
You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
You'll miss the person who was closest to you
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There will be a time, please remember this
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
You'll regret leaving me
Someday, when you grow lonely
At some point, when you feel alone
Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
Your heart will hurt just like mine, and you'll only think of me
You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
You are going to feel depressed and miserable
You're gonna feel bad
You will regret what you've done
And you'll miss, and you'll miss,
You'll yearn for
And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had
You will miss the best friend you ever had
But baby, think what you're doin'
Please reconsider your actions, my love
I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so
I will keep popping up in your mind and teasing you
It's gonna drive you to ruin
It will make you suffer
After you've gone, after you've gone away.
After you've left me behind
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Henry Creamer, Turner Layton, Ray Sherman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind