The recording features 12-year-old Michael Jackson singing a serious song about a love, with accompaniment from his brothers. Although such a record was unusual for a teenage group, "Never Can Say Goodbye" was a number-two hit on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and a number-one hit on the Billboard Black Singles chart in the United States. In the United Kingdom, it reached number thirty-three on the UK Singles Chart.
never can say goodbye
Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never can say goodbye
Even though the pain and heartache
Seem to follow me wherever I go
Though I try and try to hide my feelings
They always seem to show,
And I always have to say no
Tell me why is it so
That I never can say goodbye, no, no, no, no, now
Never can say goodbye
Every time I think I've had enough
And start heading for the door
There's a very strange vibration
Piercing me right through the core
It says, turn around, you fool
You know you love him more and more
Tell me why is it so
Don't wanna let you go
I never can say goodbye girl
Ooh ooh baby (don't wanna let you go girl)
I never can say goodbye, no no no, no no no
Ooh, oh I never can say goodbye girl
Ooh ooh ooh (don't wanna let you go girl)
I never can say goodbye, no no no, no no no, ooh
Never can say goodbye, no, no, no, no, now
Never can say goodbye
I keep thinking that our problems
Soon are all gonna work out
But there's that same unhappy feeling
There's that anguish, there's that doubt
It's the same old dizzy hangup
Can't do with you or without
Tell me why is it so
Don't wanna let you go
I never can say goodbye girl
Ooh ooh baby (hey baby)
I never can say goodbye, no no no, no no no
Ooh, oh I never can say goodbye girl
Ooh oh (hey baby)
I never can say goodbye, no no no, no no no, ooh
I never can say goodbye girl
Ooh ooh baby (hey baby)
I never can say goodbye, no no no, no no no
Ooh, oh I never can say goodbye girl
Ooh oh (hey baby)
The Jackson 5's "Never Can Say Goodbye" is a song about the inability to let go of a relationship. The singer cannot bring himself to say goodbye, despite the pain and heartache that follows him. He tries to hide his feelings but they always seem to show. When his partner threatens to leave him, he begs her to stay – he cannot say goodbye. Even as he tries to walk away from the relationship, he feels a strange vibration that pulls him back. The singer is aware of the problems in the relationship but still has a strong emotional attachment to his partner.
The song is a classic example of a soulful ballad with an upbeat tempo. The lyrics are catchy and memorable, with a memorable chorus, "Never can say goodbye, no, no, no, no, now." The upbeat tempo of the song can be heard in the driving percussion and guitar riffs, and the refrain "ooh ooh baby" is a recognizable feature of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I never can say goodbye, no, no, no, no, now
I find it difficult to bid farewell
Never can say goodbye
I am unable to express my farewell
Even though the pain and heartache
Despite the agony and distress
Seem to follow me wherever I go
It accompanies me everywhere
Though I try and try to hide my feelings
Although I make an effort to conceal my emotions
They always seem to show,
They tend to surface
Then you try to say you're leaving me
You attempt to state that you're departing
And I always have to say no
But I always refute it
Tell me why is it so
Please tell me the reason behind it
Every time I think I've had enough
Whenever I believe it is sufficient
And start heading for the door
And begin to make my way to the exit
There's a very strange vibration
There's an unusual sensation
Piercing me right through the core
Penetrating through the very center of me
It says, turn around, you fool
It instructs me to turn back, even though I'm foolish
You know you love him more and more
I know my love for you keeps growing
Tell me why is it so
Please tell me the reason behind it
Don't wanna let you go
I don't want to bid you farewell
I keep thinking that our problems
I keep contemplating our issues
Soon are all gonna work out
They will soon be resolved
But there's that same unhappy feeling
However, that same unhappy emotion prevails
There's that anguish, there's that doubt
There's a distress and uncertainty
It's the same old dizzy hangup
It's the same monotonous discordance
Can't do with you or without
I can't manage with or without you
Tell me why is it so
Please tell me the reason behind it
Don't wanna let you go
I don't want to bid you farewell
I never can say goodbye girl
I'm simply incapable of bidding you farewell
Ooh ooh baby (don't wanna let you go girl)
Oh baby, I don't want to let you go
I never can say goodbye, no no no, no no no
I'm simply incapable of bidding farewell
Ooh, oh I never can say goodbye girl
Oh, I'm simply incapable of bidding you farewell
Ooh ooh ooh (don't wanna let you go girl)
Oh, I don't want to let you go
I never can say goodbye, no no no, no no no, ooh
I'm simply incapable of bidding farewell
Never can say goodbye, no, no, no, no, now
I am unable to express my farewell
I keep thinking that our problems
I keep contemplating our issues
Soon are all gonna work out
They will soon be resolved
But there's that same unhappy feeling
However, that same unhappy emotion prevails
There's that anguish, there's that doubt
There's a distress and uncertainty
It's the same old dizzy hangup
It's the same monotonous discordance
Can't do with you or without
I can't manage with or without you
Tell me why is it so
Please tell me the reason behind it
Don't wanna let you go
I don't want to bid you farewell
I never can say goodbye girl
I'm simply incapable of bidding you farewell
Ooh ooh baby (hey baby)
Oh baby
I never can say goodbye, no no no, no no no
I'm simply incapable of bidding farewell
Ooh, oh I never can say goodbye girl
Oh, I'm simply incapable of bidding you farewell
Ooh oh (hey baby)
Oh baby
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrRockyVega
This was easily one of the hardest songs to listen to when he left us.
I remember it like it was yesterday.
I had heard the news on CNN and I just sat there quietly the rest of the day. I got into a car with some friends the next day who were also big time fans and we were just quiet as we listened to the radio as they were playing "Dont Stop Til You Get Enough".
One of them put in the History album and played "Stranger In Moscow". I cried like he was one of my own family members when the chorus came on and he asked "How Does It Feel?".
It was the one question I couldn't bare to answer because of how much love and respect had for him and what he did during his time here. Hearing this song, "Earth Song" and "I'll Be There" were always the hardest ones along with "Stranger In Moscow".
There will never be another like you, Michael. Thank you for sharing your gift with us so selflessly.
@fostermac7170
We had it good and didnt realize it.
It helped that ADULTS were writing the music. They arranged the vocals. They wrote the chord progressions. They learned how to write about sex or taboo subjects using techniques like double entendre that allowed the listener to take the message where he or she wanted it. None of that in your face bullshit. We didnt have songs named "panty dropper", even if it was a panty dropper. All of the singers today say things like "you gon' think I invented sex". Of course, the singer is usually a 5'2" kid looking so-called thug that ain't invented nothing.
This song, of course was written by Clifton Davis of "That's My Mama, and Amen". The Jacksons recorded it after he presented it to Motown on a spec.
All of us ought to write some songs and present them to well, who? Cash Money Records?; Bad Boy Records?, Ruthless this? Murder this?
Look this industry is f'd up, and we ought to be shamed of ourselves watching it happen and not coming up with solution to fix it.
Thanks. I've been wanting to say that for a long time.
@iamtheglow
My mom died yesterday and this song popped into my head. I’ll miss her forever. 💔
@SwedeProof
I'm terribly sorry that you lost your mom so recently 😔.
@iamtheglow
@@SwedeProof Thank you 🙏🏾
@tinydancer62
I'm very sorry for your loss. 🙏
@mikemurphy1472
God bless you 🙏🏽
@iamtheglow
@@mikemurphy1472 Thank you. You as well. 🙏🏾
@fredo4070
How did a little kid sing with that much heart?
Surreal. Michael Jackson is a true giant. Timeless
@detetiveluke
I fell always impressed too, it feels like his soul came and hug my soul everytime I hear him singing
@musizlovva1570
It's called being Gifted and Annoited.
@jonathanvijongarth
He was gifted.