Irene's older brother, Roy Kral, was a successful musician when Irene started singing professionally as a teenager. She sung with bands on tours led by Woody Herman and Chubby Jackson, former Herman bass player.
Irene joined Maynard Ferguson's band in the late 1950s and sang with groups led by Stan Kenton and Shelly Manne.
Irene then started a solo career until her death at 46 years of age. She was a ballad singer who stated that Carmen McRae was one of her inspirations.
Irene was made more famous posthumously when Clint Eastwood used her recordings in his 1995 movie, The Bridges of Madison County.
(from Wikipedia)
Everytime I Say Goodbye
Irene Kral Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every time we say goodbye, I wonder why a little
Why the gods above me, who must be in the know
Think so little of me that they allow you go
When your near there's such an air of Spring about it
I can hear a lark somewhere begin to sing about it
There's no love song finer but how strange
Every time we say goodbye
The lyrics to Irene Kral's song "Everytime I Say Goodbye" are a poignant reflection on the pain of separation and the difficulty of accepting the end of a relationship. The opening lines, "Every time we say goodbye, I die a little," convey a sense of profound loss and sorrow that deepens with each parting. The singer is filled with a sense of wonder and confusion as she tries to understand why fate or the gods above her have allowed the person she loves to leave.
As the song progresses, the lyrics take on a more hopeful tone, depicting the beauty and vitality of love when it is present. The singer notes that "When (you're) near there's such an air of Spring about it," and describes the sounds of nature responding to the joy of being in love. However, this idealistic image is undercut by the final line, "Every time we say goodbye," which reminds us that the happiness of love is always fleeting and that separation is inevitable.
Overall, "Everytime I Say Goodbye" is a song that explores the bittersweet nature of love and the power of absence and separation. Its poignant lyrics and understated musical style combine to create a moving and meaningful tribute to the complexity of emotional experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time we say goodbye, I die a little
Each time we part, it feels like a piece of me dies.
Every time we say goodbye, I wonder why a little
I can't help but question why we have to separate each time.
Why the gods above me, who must be in the know
I wonder if the higher powers know something I don't.
Think so little of me that they allow you go
Perhaps they don't think highly of me since they're allowing you to leave.
When your near there's such an air of Spring about it
Being close to you feels like a breath of fresh air, like springtime.
I can hear a lark somewhere begin to sing about it
It's as if even the birds can sense the joy you bring.
There's no love song finer but how strange
Our love is unmatched, and yet it's so strange that we keep saying goodbye.
The change from major to minor
Our happy moments together always turn sad when we have to part.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind