Bye Bye Baby
Janis Joplin Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Bye, bye-bye, baby, bye-bye.
I may be seeing you around
When I change my living standard and I move uptown,
Bye-bye, baby, bye-bye.

So long, my honey, so long.
I guess I'm gonna make it somehow.
But you may not be with me, darling, when I do
'cause you're not with me now.

Well, I know that

Bye-bye, baby, bye-bye.
I guess I'm gonna make it OK.
An' I'll see you in a funny place some old day,
So long, my honey, so long.

Well, I get the feeling I could chase you clean on in the ball
And wind up staying pull off, put down strung out and stalled.
Honey, I ain't got time to wait on you or to fetch your super-ball,
I've got lots of things I've got to do.

So long, my honey, so long.
I guess I'm gonna make it somehow
But you may not be with me darling when I do
'cause you're not with me now!

So long, my honey, so long.
Too bad you had to drift away
'cause I could use some company
Right on this road, right on this road I'm on today, yeah!

Well, I know that you got things to do and places to be
And I guess I'll have to find the thing you placed on me.
I may wind up in the street or sleep beneath a tree,
Still I guess you know, honey I've gotta go.

Bye, bye-bye, baby, bye-bye.
Lord, I might've been your wife,
But you settled for a place right in my heart,
You didn't want a place in my life.

So long, my honey, so long.
I guess you know you're on your own,
It seems you just got lost somewhere out in the world
And you left me here to face it all alone,
Why, you left me here to face it all alone,




You left me here to face it all alone, yeah!
I said bye, bye b-bye baby, baby bye-bye!!

Overall Meaning

The song "Bye Bye Baby" by Janis Joplin speaks about the end of a relationship and the singer's decision to move on. The lyrics convey a sense of freedom and independence as the singer sets herself free from a person who is keeping her chained down. The opening verse talks about how the singer may still see her ex-partner around, but the fact that she is moving uptown suggests a move towards a better life. She acknowledges that she will make it on her own, even though her partner might not be there with her.


The second verse focuses on the singer's determination to let go and move on. She expresses the desire to avoid being tethered to someone who is not present in her life now. The third verse metaphorically alludes to a relationship as a game of catch or fetch, with the singer being tired of waiting around for her partner to come back. She also states that she has things to do, and she cannot remain idle.


The refrain of "So long, my honey, so long" emphasizes the finality of the singer's decision to end the relationship. The last verse states that the singer may end up alone, but she is willing to face the world on her own terms.


Overall, the song speaks of self-reliance and the realization that moving on is sometimes the best course of action.


Line by Line Meaning

Bye, bye-bye, baby, bye-bye.
I am parting ways with you and saying goodbye.


I may be seeing you around
We might cross paths again in the future.


When I change my living standard and I move uptown,
When I improve my lifestyle and move to a better neighborhood.


So long, my honey, so long.
Farewell, my dear.


I guess I'm gonna make it somehow.
I believe I will manage to succeed on my own.


But you may not be with me, darling, when I do
You may not be there to share in my success because you are not here now.


Well, I know that
I understand that fact.


An' I'll see you in a funny place some old day,
I might run into you in a peculiar location someday.


I guess I'm gonna make it OK.
I will manage to make it a success.


Well, I get the feeling I could chase you clean on in the ball
I have the impression that I could chase you everywhere and end up exhausted and frustrated.


And wind up staying pull off, put down strung out and stalled.
I might end up stranded and unable to move forward.


Honey, I ain't got time to wait on you or to fetch your super-ball,
I don't have the time to wait for you or to do your bidding.


I've got lots of things I've got to do.
I have many responsibilities that require my attention.


Too bad you had to drift away
It's unfortunate that you had to leave without warning.


'cause I could use some company
I would appreciate having someone with me.


Right on this road, right on this road I'm on today, yeah!
On the exact path that I am currently traveling.


Well, I know that you got things to do and places to be
I understand that you have commitments and priorities.


And I guess I'll have to find the thing you placed on me.
I will have to discover how to fill the void you left behind.


I may wind up in the street or sleep beneath a tree,
I might end up homeless or destitute.


Still I guess you know, honey I've gotta go.
Despite these challenges, I'm still moving forward and leaving you behind.


Lord, I might've been your wife,
I could have been your spouse and partner in life.


But you settled for a place right in my heart,
Instead, you chose to occupy a special place in my heart.


You didn't want a place in my life.
However, you did not want to be fully involved in my life.


I guess you know you're on your own,
You are now responsible for your own life.


It seems you just got lost somewhere out in the world
You seem to be lost or directionless in life.


And you left me here to face it all alone,
You abandoned me to deal with everything by myself.


Why, you left me here to face it all alone,
I'm questioning why you left me alone to handle it all.


You left me here to face it all alone, yeah!
I am left to face all these challenges by myself.


I said bye, bye-bye baby, baby bye-bye!!
This is my final farewell to you as I move on with my life.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARY WELLS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@henriquelopes4669

Bye, bye-bye, baby, bye-bye.
I may be seeing you around
When I change my living standard and I move uptown,
Bye-bye, baby, bye-bye.

So long, my honey, so long.
I guess I'm gonna make it somehow.
But you may not be with me, darling, when I do
'cause you're not with me now.

Well, I know that

Bye-bye, baby, bye-bye.
I guess I'm gonna make it OK.
An' I'll see you in a funny place some old day,
So long, my honey, so long.

Well, I get the feeling I could chase you clean on in the ball
And wind up staying pull off, put down strung out and stalled.
Honey, I ain't got time to wait on you or to fetch your super-ball,
I've got lots of things I've got to do.

So long, my honey, so long.
I guess I'm gonna make it somehow
But you may not be with me darling when I do
'cause you're not with me now!

So long, my honey, so long.
Too bad you had to drift away
'cause I could use some company
Right on this road, right on this road I'm on today, yeah!

Well, I know that you got things to do and places to be
And I guess I'll have to find the thing you placed on me.
I may wind up in the street or sleep beneath a tree,
Still I guess you know, honey I've gotta go.

Bye, bye-bye, baby, bye-bye.
Lord, I might've been your wife,
But you settled for a place right in my heart,
You didn't want a place in my life.

So long, my honey, so long.
I guess you know you're on your own,
It seems you just got lost somewhere out in the world
And you left me here to face it all alone,
Why, you left me here to face it all alone,
You left me here to face it all alone, yeah!
I said bye, bye b-bye baby, baby bye-bye!!



All comments from YouTube:

@elginphelps5291

My brother brought this album home when I was 11. Now I'm 65.

@ShanaiCollins

52 years later we still love and miss you, R.I.P Pearl

@tiagoferreirapimenta557

The best janis

@donwargowsky4724

What "genius" decided Janis' voice needed double-tracked on this album ?? The 2008 remaster of this album has a bonus track of this exact song that's NOT double-tracked & the difference is amazing. It's like double-tracking Ray Charles or Jessye Norman. This first album could have been a masterpiece.

@soundawake

someone please post remaster version

@vicentemartinez2276

I really enjoy that double traking tbh

@WastrelWay

Yes, I hear these remastered versions and I wonder, What is wrong it doesn't sound like that. No her voice was not double-tracked on the original. Her voice did not need to be double-tracked, and everyone knew it. This is a 21st century schizoid version.

@PRISMN54

One of my favorites. I have all the vinyls.

@clarkewi

A masterpiece of the era.

@jenniferterry4196

The mash-up of calypso and R&B is divine.

More Comments

More Versions