I'll Say Goodbye
Jimmie Rodgers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

When you wake up
And find me gone tomorrow
Don′t think I meant to hurt you
I just did what we knew I had to
And all the time we knew
The time was never right for us
Time to leave this love behind
I could never leave you -- Baby
If I saw you cry

I'll say good bye for the two of us
Tonight while you sleep
I′ll kiss you softly one last time
And say good-bye

Like I know we must
There's just no other way
And I couldn't bear to see your heart break
So I′ll wait till your asleep to say good-bye

Please realize
How hard it is to do this
I′m trying to make it through this
Say good-bye just as gently as I can
Please try and understand
This time just wasn't the time for us
We knew I couldn′t stay
But that don't make it easier to leave you
So while I can find the strength

Before your arms embrace me
Before your kisses take me
Before your eyes can make me stay

Like I know we must
I′ll wait till you're asleep
To say good-bye for the two of us
Tonight while you sleep
I′ll kiss you softly one last time
And say good-bye
Like I know we must
There's just no other way
And I couldn't bear to see your heart break
So I′ll wait till your asleep to say good-bye

When you wake up




And find me gone tomorrow
Don′t think I meant to hurt you

Overall Meaning

The song "I'll Say Goodbye" by Jimmie Rodgers is a sad ballad about a breakup. It is told from the perspective of the person who is leaving their partner, explaining that the decision was not made to intentionally hurt the other person but was necessary. The lyrics express the feelings of guilt and sadness that come with the decision to end a relationship, even when it is for the best.


The singer tells their partner that they will say goodbye while they sleep because they cannot bear to see their heart break. They kiss them softly one last time and explain that they are leaving because it is the right thing to do, but it doesn't make it any easier. The singer asks their partner to try and understand that it was not the right time for them and that they had to leave.


Overall, the song is a poignant and heartfelt expression of the pain of ending a relationship. The singer acknowledges their responsibility for the breakup but also explains that it was necessary for them to move on with their life.


Line by Line Meaning

When you wake up
As you arise from your slumber


And find me gone tomorrow
Discovering that I have left you by morning


Don't think I meant to hurt you
Please don't believe I intended to cause any pain


I just did what we knew I had to
I acted predictably and with necessity


And all the time we knew
We were aware all along


The time was never right for us
Our timing was never ideal


Time to leave this love behind
It's time to say farewell to our relationship


I could never leave you -- Baby
I would never abandon you, my love


If I saw you cry
If I witnessed you weep


I'll say good bye for the two of us
I will bid us both adieu


Tonight while you sleep
As you slumber this evening


I'll kiss you softly one last time
I'll give you one final tender kiss


And say good-bye
And then I will depart


Like I know we must
As we both understand is necessary


There's just no other way
There is simply no alternative


And I couldn't bear to see your heart break
I would be unable to cope with the heartache I would cause you


So I'll wait till your asleep to say good-bye
I'll wait until you're slumbering to bid you farewell


Please realize
Understand, if you can


How hard it is to do this
How strenuous a task it is to carry out


I'm trying to make it through this
I'm endeavoring to endure this experience


Say good-bye just as gently as I can
I will be as tender as possible in saying goodbye


Please try and understand
I implore you to comprehend


This time just wasn't the time for us
This period was simply not fitting for us


We knew I couldn't stay
We were conscious that I was not able to remain


But that don't make it easier to leave you
That doesn't make it any less challenging to depart from you


So while I can find the strength
While I can muster up the courage


Before your arms embrace me
Before you take me in your arms


Before your kisses take me
Before your caresses capture me


Before your eyes can make me stay
Before your gaze persuades me to linger


When you wake up
As you arise from your slumber


And find me gone tomorrow
Discovering that I have left you by morning


Don't think I meant to hurt you
Please don't believe I intended to cause any pain




Writer(s): Gilbert Becaud, Rod Mckuen, Louis Amande

Contributed by Isabelle H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Gary Gordon

Magnificent.....I have this album, & when I heard this song, it instantly became my very favorite "ballad" of all time. THANK YOU for posting this........

mark stuart

I honestly don't think there is a bad song on this album....I don't say that about many....

Olen Holmes

mark stuart I have this album but no longer have anything to play it on.

Nick Campbell

Another great song by Rod McKuen.

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