Go West quickly had a publishing deal and possessed a portastudio, but lacked a band or recording company. Peter and Richard decided, with support from John Glover, their manager, to find a musical producer, and record just two of their songs. The tracks We Close Our Eyes and Call Me found Go West developing a record deal with Chrysalis Records. The songwriting duo specialised in radio friendly, white soul sounds.
The band's debut single, We Close Our Eyes, was released in 1985 and managed to achieve the number 5 position on the UK Singles charts, #5 on the US Dance Club Play chart and also managed to reach #41 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. The video for the song became an early favorite on MTV. This helped them to be voted the "Best Newcomers" at the 1986, BRIT Awards.
The duo's self-titled album also featured 2 more Hot 100 entries; "Call Me" (1984 - #54) and "Eye To Eye" (1985 - #73). The album also featured "Don't Look Down", which would serve as the prequel to what would be the band's first Top 40 hit in the US. The album hit #8 in the UK Album charts and #60 on Billboard 200 Album chart.
In 1987, they released their follow-up, "Dancing On The Couch", which peaked at #19 on UK Album chart but only got as high as #172 in the US. Ironically, that album yielded Go West with their first US Top 40 hit, "Don't Look Down - The Sequel", squeaking into the Top 40 peaking at #39. That song was a continuation to "Don't Look Down" from their debut album. However, "Don't Look Down - The Sequel" was excluded from the UK versions of the CD, which instead included the track, "Let's Build A Boat", which coincidentally became the B-Side of the US release of "Don't Look Down - The Sequel".
Later in 1990, Go West scored a top 10 US hit with the song King of Wishful Thinking from the movie Pretty Woman. An instrumental version of the song's chorus is also alleged to be heard in the production logo for Gracie Films (seen at the end of The Simpsons).
Go West website: www.gowest.org.uk
Goodbye Girl
Go West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Crossing bridges never burned
I am tired of playing hide and seek
Is this all that I have learned?
Looking for a diamond in the dark
I was sure you were the one
You held me spellbound while you made your mark
Goodbye girl, it's a game we play every time we say
Goodbye girl, you hypnotize
I can't say goodbye
I'm afraid when I turn out the light
Words you say while you're asleep
Where you were and what you did last night
Those are secrets you can keep, yeah
Goodbye girl, it's a game we play every time we say
Goodbye girl, you hypnotize
I can't say goodbye
Tied to you blood on the wire
Don't you know you've pushed me much too far
Just who do you think you are
I can't escape
Must all roads lead to Rome?
Every time I say goodbye, you hypnotize
Footsteps echo on familiar streets
Crossing bridges never burned
I am tired of playing hide and seek
Is this all that I have learned?
Goodbye girl, it's a game we play every time we say
Goodbye girl, you hypnotize my eyes
Goodbye girl, it's a game we play every time we say
Goodbye girl, you hypnotize
I can't say goodbye
Goodbye girl, it's a game we play every time we say
Goodbye girl, you hypnotize my eyes
Goodbye girl, it's a game we play every time we say
Goodbye girl, you hypnotize
I can't say goodbye
The lyrics of Go West's song Goodbye Girl tug at the heartstrings of anyone who has ever been in a relationship that is hard to walk away from. The opening lines of the first verse, "Footsteps echo on familiar streets, Crossing bridges never burned" sets the scene for a bittersweet farewell. The singer is leaving, but it's not a nasty departure, and he's wondering if he has learned anything from this relationship that he can take with him. He then talks about how he was looking for a diamond in the dark and believed that he had found it in his partner. However, he now realizes that the damage has been done, and it's time to say goodbye.
In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that he's scared to say goodbye for fear of being alone. He also highlights the secrets that couples keep from each other, emphasizing that the secrets his partner keeps are theirs to keep. The chorus then repeats, and the lyrics become more intense, and the singer expresses his anger at being pushed too far. He feels trapped and wonders if all roads lead to Rome.
The song's hook is the fact that every time he tries to say goodbye, his partner hypnotizes him with her spell, and he can't seem to walk away. The emotional pull of this song is undeniable, and its lyrics stay with the listener long after the song has ended.
Line by Line Meaning
Footsteps echo on familiar streets
The singer is walking on streets they know well.
Crossing bridges never burned
The singer has avoided conflict with people they had disagreements with in the past.
I am tired of playing hide and seek
The singer is weary of pretending and pretending to not know certain things that they have a good idea about.
Is this all that I have learned?
The artist is questioning if they haven't gained more knowledge than just these experiences.
Looking for a diamond in the dark
The artist is searching for something precious and valuable that they are uncertain if they'll ever find.
I was sure you were the one
The singer had believed they found the precious thing they were looking for in the person they addressed.
You held me spellbound while you made your mark
The person had a great influence over the singer, leaving them captivated, while they committed some act with significant impact.
Now the damage has been done
The artist realizes that there have been severe negative consequences to what the person had done, leaving them in a bad situation.
Goodbye girl, it's a game we play every time we say
The artist is tired of the cycle of pretending to say goodbye to the person, only for them to keep returning.
Goodbye girl, you hypnotize
The person has a hold on the artist, making it difficult for them to break free.
I can't say goodbye
The singer is unable to let go of the person.
I'm afraid when I turn out the light
The artist feels scared when they are alone, especially when it's dark, because it's a setting where they feel vulnerable and exposed.
Words you say while you're asleep
The person talks in their sleep, revealing things they wouldn't consciously say.
Where you were and what you did last night
The singer is curious about the person's activities and whereabouts, especially during the night.
Those are secrets you can keep, yeah
The singer tells the person that they don't have to reveal these secrets.
Tied to you blood on the wire
The artist feels trapped in a dangerous situation because of their relationship with the person, potentially with deadly consequences.
Don't you know you've pushed me much too far
The artist has had enough of the person's behavior and feels like it's crossed a line.
Just who do you think you are
The singer questions the person's authority or right to act the way they do.
I can't escape
The singer feels trapped and unable to get away from the person.
Must all roads lead to Rome?
The artist is using this saying to question if all actions will lead to a certain result, in this case, a bad one.
Every time I say goodbye, you hypnotize
The artist is stuck in a loop of saying goodbye only to be pulled back in by the person.
Goodbye girl, you hypnotize my eyes
The way the person looks or behaves has a mesmerizing effect on the artist.
I can't say goodbye
The singer is unable to leave the person even though they should.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: COX, DRUMMIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gerard McCartney
on The King Is Dead
When you finally realise that all your life, you've been driven by ego, and the humiliating freedom that realisation affords