Goodbye Girl
Go West Lyrics


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Footsteps echo on familiar streets
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
Now the damage has been done

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

Overall Meaning

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
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