Jimmy Webb is responsible for writing numerous popular and Top 10 hits sung by a disparate group of artists, including Glen Campbell ("Galveston"); Art Garfunkel ("All I Know"); Donna Summer and many others.
Webb's father was a Baptist minister and a former Marine. His mother died when he was a teenager. His most popular songs were all composed when he was between 19 and 21 years of age.
"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" is one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century.
He is noted for having written songs that were hits in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and is the only person to receive Grammy Awards in all three categories: music, lyrics and orchestration. Webb has also written the music for the animated film The Last Unicorn.
Webb is also a performer of his own music, although his solo output has never matched the commercial success of recordings of his work by other performers.
He was elected to the National Academy of Popular Music Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986.
Adiós
Jimmy Webb Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To be with you on the California coast
Drinking margaritas all night in the old cantina
Out on, out on the California coast
Don't think that I'm ungrateful
And don't look so morose
Adios, adios
We never really made it baby
But we came pretty close
Adios, adios
Going up north where the hills are winter green
I got to leave you on the California coast
Going where the water's clear and the air is cleaner
Than, than the California Coast
Our dreams of endless summer
Were just too grandiose
Adios, adios
And I miss the blood red sunset
But I miss you the most
Adios, adios
Adios, adios
Adios, adios
Jimmy Webb's song Adios is a nostalgic ballad about a failed relationship that had once been filled with dreams of endless summers and endless love. The lyrics tell the story of a young man who ran away from home at the age of seventeen to be with his lover on the California coast, where they spent their nights drinking margaritas in an old cantina. However, despite their best efforts, their love did not stand the test of time, and they were unable to make their dreams a reality. The singer of the song decides to leave his lover and head up north where the hills are winter green, where he hopes to find a cleaner, brighter future that is not tarnished by his broken dreams of the California coast. He admits that he misses the blood red sunset, but he misses his lover the most, as he says "adios, adios" to the memories of their failed relationship.
The lyrics of Adios are full of powerful imagery and emotion, which makes it a timeless classic that has resonated with audiences for decades. The sonorous melody and plaintive vocals of the song are a perfect match for the bittersweet story that is contained within its verses. The themes of nostalgia, regret, and the passing of time are universal and relatable, which is why the song is still cherished by fans of all ages.
Line by Line Meaning
Ran away from home when I was seventeen
I left my home when I was just seventeen years old, because I wanted to be with you on the Californian coast.
To be with you on the California coast
I left my home and everything behind just to be with you on the beautiful Californian coast.
Drinking margaritas all night in the old cantina
We spent our nights drinking margaritas in an old cantina on the Californian coast.
Out on, out on the California coast
We spent most of our time on the Californian coast.
Don't think that I'm ungrateful
I appreciate everything we had together, so please don't think that I'm ungrateful.
And don't look so morose
Please don't look so sad because of our situation.
Adios, adios
Goodbye, goodbye.
We never really made it baby
We never really succeeded in our attempts to create a life together.
But we came pretty close
But we came so close to achieving our dreams together.
Going up north where the hills are winter green
I'm leaving for the north where the hills keep their green color throughout the winter season.
I got to leave you on the California coast
I have to leave you behind on the Californian coast.
Going where the water's clear and the air is cleaner
I'm going to a place with clear water and cleaner air than the Californian coast.
Than, than the California Coast
The place I'm going to is much cleaner than the Californian coast.
Our dreams of endless summer
We had big dreams of having an endless summer together.
Were just too grandiose
Unfortunately, our dreams were too ambitious and unrealistic.
And I miss the blood red sunset
I miss the beautiful, blood red sunset that we used to watch together.
But I miss you the most
Most of all, I miss being with you.
Adios, adios
Goodbye, goodbye.
Adios, adios
Goodbye, goodbye.
Adios, adios
Goodbye, goodbye.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIMMY WEBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ron Harris
What an American treasure Jimmy Webb is. He has written some incredible time capsules that will never fade. Thanks for this gift.
Peter T
absolutely +1
CaddyTCB
Just a gorgeous beautiful song.
aggressive accoustic
great song by a great songwriter done greatly - can believe only 3.5k views as of today.