Joe Nichols of Rogers, Arkansas, a young country music singer who rose to p… Read Full Bio ↴Joe Nichols of Rogers, Arkansas, a young country music singer who rose to prominence in 2002 with The Impossible He only had minor hits before then.
According to the The Impossible Songfacts, the Kelley Lovelace and Lee Thomas Miller penned mid-tempo ballad was released in March 2002 as the first single from his second album, man With a Memory . It became his first hit, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Country chart and #29 on the Hot 100. Nichols recalled to The Boot in a 2011 interview: "'The Impossible' was huge for me for a number of different reasons. It was my introduction to Country music. It was the first thing everybody saw of me, this brand new guy with this voice. I heard a lot of people say when they met me, 'Wow! We just pictured somebody a lot older, because it's a really country-sounding voice.' So, it was my introduction. It got people familiar with me."

Farewell Party
Joe Nichols Lyrics

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When the last breath of life
Is gone from my body
And my lips are as cold as the sea
When my friends gather round
For my farewell party
Won't you pretend you love me

There'll be flowers from those who'll cry

When I go and leave you in this old world alone
I know you'll have fun at my farewell party
Won't you be glad when I'm gone

Don't be mad at me
For wanting to keep you
Till my life on this old world is through
You'll be free at the end of my farewell party
But I'll, I'll go away loving you

There'll be flowers from those who'll cry
When I go and leave you in this old world alone
I know you'll have fun at my farewell party

Won't you be glad when I'm gone
Oh won't you be glad when I'm goooo oooo ooone

Overall Meaning

The song "Farewell Party" by Joe Nichols speaks about the end of life, where the singer describes his own death and the subsequent party that will follow. The song begins with the singer telling us that when the last breath of his life is gone and his lips are as cold as the sea, he wants his friends to gather around him for his farewell party. He requests his friends to pretend that they still love him in spite of his passing, as there would be flowers from those who'll cry when he leaves them in this old world alone. The singer is aware that the people at his party will have fun and rejoice once he's gone, but he does not wish for them to be mad at him for wanting to keep them until he passes on.

The lyrics can be interpreted as the singer announcing his acceptance of death and asking his friends to celebrate his life with him before he departs. Despite the sadness that comes with death, the singer wishes to be remembered fondly by those around him, as he leaves the world behind. The song is written in the form of a goodbye letter, where the singer reassures his loved ones that they will be free to continue living their lives once he's gone, but he'll still go away loving them.

In summary, "Farewell Party" is a poignant song that speaks to mortality and acknowledging death. It encourages us to celebrate the lives of those we love while they're still with us and to remember them fondly once they're gone.

Line by Line Meaning

When the last breath of life
At the time of my death

Is gone from my body
When I am no longer alive

And my lips are as cold as the sea
When my body turns cold and lifeless

When my friends gather round
When my loved ones come together

For my farewell party
To say goodbye to me

Won't you pretend you love me
Can you show me some love and appreciation even if it's just for the last time?

There'll be flowers from those who'll cry
People will bring flowers as a symbol of mourning

When I go and leave you in this old world alone
When I depart from this world and leave you behind

I know you'll have fun at my farewell party
I know that you'll find joy and comfort in remembering the moments we shared

Won't you be glad when I'm gone
Can't you be happy when my suffering and pain come to an end?

Don't be mad at me
Don't resent me