Gilmore also played "Smokey" in The Big Lebowski
Goodbye Old Missoula
Jimmie Dale Gilmore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On this winter's day.
Here in old Missoula,
They locked the sun away.
Come tomorrow morning
I'll head for the Bozeman round
And it's goodbye to old Missoula, sleepy town.
I met a girl named Rosie,
But I guess that Rosie
Didn't have eyes for me.
Time it waits for no-one
Lord, why did I hesitate?
And it's goodbye to old Missoula, a day too late.
Clouds that hang on the mountain
They make me lonesome inside.
And these four walls that surround me
They leave me no place to hide.
The show in this town is over
Or maybe it never began
And it's goodbye to old Missoula, I've done all I can.
Goodbye, Rosie - you'll never know
And time says my love will pass
But if I can remember your smiling face
That's all of time that I ask
The show in this town is over
Or maybe it never began
And it's goodbye to old Missoula, I've done all I can.
Goodbye to old Missoula,
Goodbye to old Missoula,
Goodbye to old Missoula, sleepy town.
The song "Goodbye Old Missoula" by Jimmie Dale Gilmore tells the story of a man who is leaving the small town of Missoula, Montana. The beginning of the song paints a picture of a bleak winter's day where there is no sun to be found in Missoula. The man knows he must leave and head for Bozeman tomorrow morning, and he says goodbye to the sleepy town of Missoula.
In the second verse, the man reflects on a girl he met named Rosie who he thought was sweet, but she did not have eyes for him. He regrets hesitating in pursuing her and now it is too late to do anything about it. The loneliness inside him is like the clouds that hang over the mountain and the four walls surrounding him leave him nowhere to hide. He knows that the show in this town is over, or maybe it never began. In the end, he says goodbye to the town of Missoula, knowing that he has done all he can.
The song has a bittersweet feeling to it, one that is often associated with leaving things behind. The singer is saying goodbye to the town, to a potential love interest, and to the life he knew there. The themes of regret and missed opportunities are prevalent in this song, and they resonate with anyone who has experienced leaving something they once knew.
Line by Line Meaning
Searching for the sunlight
Looking for a glimmer of hope
On this winter's day.
In a time of darkness and coldness
Here in old Missoula,
In this town of memories and the past
They locked the sun away.
Nothing good or bright is happening here
Come tomorrow morning
Another day brings new opportunities
I'll head for the Bozeman round
Moving on to a new place and new experiences
And it's goodbye to old Missoula, sleepy town.
Leaving behind this uneventful place
I met a girl named Rosie,
Finding someone who could bring happiness
Sweet as she could be.
Kind, gentle, and loving
But I guess that Rosie
Unfortunately, Rosie
Didn't have eyes for me.
Didn't return the same feelings
Time it waits for no-one
Time doesn't pause for anyone or anything
Lord, why did I hesitate?
Regretting past hesitations or missed opportunities
And it's goodbye to old Missoula, a day too late.
Leaving this place too late to salvage what could have been
Clouds that hang on the mountain
A metaphor for the weight and burden the town has on him
They make me lonesome inside.
Feeling lonely and isolated in this place
And these four walls that surround me
Feeling trapped and confined in this town
They leave me no place to hide.
No escape from this town or its memories
The show in this town is over
There's nothing left to do or see here
Or maybe it never began
Perhaps this town never had much potential to begin with
And it's goodbye to old Missoula, I've done all I can.
Trying to make the best of this place, but ultimately leaving
Goodbye, Rosie - you'll never know
Leaving behind someone he cared for
And time says my love will pass
Knowing that time will eventually heal any heartache
But if I can remember your smiling face
Holding onto a happy memory
That's all of time that I ask
All he wants is to preserve this memory of happiness
Goodbye to old Missoula,
Saying farewell to this stagnant place
Goodbye to old Missoula,
Repeating the sentiment for emphasis
Goodbye to old Missoula, sleepy town.
Finally departing from this uneventful place
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
PaleBunnyInfidel
WILLIS ALAN RAMSEY did Goodbye to Old Missoula, who I think also wrote it. The most beautiful version ever.
John Andre
Would love to see a similar photo montage for Jeannie C. Riley's "Oh Singer"...cotton fields, old L&N Railroad photos, riverboats, etc.
FOLK UKE OFFICIAL
This is a great version by Jimmie Dale Gilmore, but you must listen to the original version my the writer, Willis Alan Ramsey
Don Griffiths
If you can find it, Willis Alan Ramsey does a version with some really pretty steel guitar in it. I just heard on KPIG and had to look it up.
stretcherbearer
The only one I could find on Itunes is by a group called Radio Stars and its not the one on your video, its a slicker, more overproduced version similar to the original by Willis Alan Ramsey. If you find out does your version, please let us know. Thanks again.
Bill Greer
Going back 40 years. Willis Allan Ramsey. From Austin , Texas. Where we come from , always getting fired staying on vacation 1 week too long in Montana .Thanks 🤙 till we did the hiring .
John Andre
I'm wondering if "Rosie" is the redhead I saw in the upper stands at last year's [2014] U of M homecoming game. Go, Griz!!!
Edward Jerin
Like that the Zoo club is one of the photos. and how could you go wrong with jimmie dale
stretcherbearer
Real fine photo montage mckid8141111. Who did that version of "Goodbye Old Missoula"? I really do like it.
Kelley Provost
Love it Scotty! You nailed it! xo