Bye Bye Love
George Harrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bye bye happiness
Hello loneliness
I think I'm gonna cry
Bye bye love
Bye bye sweet caress
Hello emptiness
Goodbye my love bye bye
There goes our lady
With a "you know who"
I hope she's happy
And "old 'Clapper' too"
We had good rhythm
(And a little slide)
Then she stepped in
Did me a favour
I threw them both out.
(Mmm) goodbye happiness
Hello loneliness
I think I'm gonna cry
Bye bye my love bye bye
(Mmm) bye bye love (Mmm)
It's gonna be a raining out of doors
(MMMM) hello happiness (MMM)
Goodbye my love goodbye
Now I'm into romance
I shy away from love
Got tired of ladies (ooh ooh)
That plot and shove me
And that's the reason
We all can (see) so clearly
They see that our lady
Is out on a 'spree'
Bye bye love
Bye bye happiness
Hello loneliness
Think I'm gonna cry
Bye bye love
Bye bye happiness
Hello emptiness
"Bye Bye Love" is a song by George Harrison, written along with Delaney Bramlett. It was one of the earliest solo compositions by Harrison, released on his first post-Beatles album, All Things Must Pass. The lyrics convey the inner turmoil and pain of a person who is parting ways with their lover. The chorus is simple and catchy, making it easy to sing along, and allows the listener to follow the emotional journey of the singer.
The opening verse sets the tone of the song and clearly spells out the emotional turmoil. The singer bids farewell to not just their love but also the happiness they shared. They welcome loneliness, which is a direct result of the separation. The second verse is where the realisation sets in, and the singer acknowledges their fate of being lonely, which could lead to crying. The "you know who" and "old 'Clapper' too" mentioned in one of the verses may be a reference to famous actor and comedian Dick Clark, who was known for using a clapboard on his show "American Bandstand."
Line by Line Meaning
Bye bye love
Farewell to the affection and the relationship.
Bye bye happiness
Goodbye to the joy and the feelings of happiness.
Hello loneliness
The arrival of sadness and loneliness.
I think I'm gonna cry
I feel overwhelmed with emotions and I might cry.
Bye bye sweet caress
Parting from the loving touch and affection.
Hello emptiness
Greeting the void and feeling empty inside.
I know I'm gonna die
I feel as if a part of me is dying because of the breakup.
Goodbye my love bye bye
Saying a final farewell to the one I loved.
There goes our lady
Referring to the woman who left him.
With a "you know who"
Not naming the person she's with, implying someone he knows.
I hope she's happy
Wishing her well, despite the pain in his heart.
And "old 'Clapper' too"
Mentioning another person in her company, referred to as 'Clapper'.
We had good rhythm
The relationship was going well.
(And a little slide)
They had a connection or attraction towards each other, suggesting intimacy.
Then she stepped in
The woman he was with betrayed him.
Did me a favour
Realizing he's better off without her and thanking her for removing herself from his life.
I threw them both out.
He kicked them out, indicating a sense of power and control.
It's gonna be a raining out of doors
It's as if the sky is crying with him in his sadness.
Hello happiness
Ironically saying hello to happiness, even though he feels the opposite.
Now I'm into romance
In contrast to his earlier statement, he is now interested in love again.
I shy away from love
He's wary of love and avoids it because of his past experiences.
Got tired of ladies (ooh ooh)
He's jaded towards women and is tired of their games and manipulation.
That plot and shove me
They try to control and push him into what they want.
And that's the reason
This is why he's apprehensive towards love.
We all can (see) so clearly
Everyone can see how women treat him and are aware of his situation.
They see that our lady
Referring to the same woman who left him earlier.
Is out on a 'spree'
She's living a wild and carefree life without him.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., HOUSE OF BRYANT PUBLICATIONS
Written by: BOUDLEAUX BRYANT, FELICE BRYANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind