Say Hello Wave Goodbye
Jools Holland Lyrics
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Crying in the rain
It was a kind of so so love
And I'm going to make sure it never
Happens again
You and I
It had to be
The standing joke of the year
A lost and found
And not for me I fear
I tried to make it work
You in a cocktail skirt
And me in a suit
(Well it just wasn't me)
You're used to wearing less
And now your life's a mess
So insecure you see
I put up with all the scenes
And this is one scene
That's going to be played my way
Take your hands off me
I don't belong to you, you see
Take a look at my face
For the last time
I never knew you
You never knew me
Say hello goodbye
Say hello wave goodbye
Under the deep red light
I can see the makeup sliding down
Hey little girl you will always make up
So take off that unbecoming frown
What about me- well
I'll find someone
That's not going cheap in the sales
A nice little housewife
Who'll give me a steady life
And won't keep going off the rails
Take your hands off me
I don't belong to you, you see
Take a look at my face
For the last time
I never knew you
You never knew me
Say hello goodbye
Say hello wave goodbye
We've been involved
For quite a while now
And to keep you secret has been hell
We're strangers meeting for the first time, okay?
Just smile and say hello
Say hello then wave goodbye
Say hello then wave goodbye
Say hello then wave goodbye
Say hello then wave goodbye
Say hello wave goodbye
Say hello then wave goodbye
Say hello say goodbye
Goodbye
Say goodbye
Say goodbye
Goodbye
In Jools Hollandโs โSay Hello Wave Goodbye,โ the singer is standing in the doorway of the Pink Flamingo crying in the rain, reminiscing about a so-so romance he had with someone. He is determined to make sure it never happens again. The relationship was the standing joke of the year because the partner slept around and was lost and found, which is not ideal for the singer. He tried to make it work but it just wasn't him. The partner was used to wearing less and now her life is a mess because she is so insecure. The singer put up with all the scenes but this is one scene that's going to be played his way. He tells his partner, โTake your hands off me. I don't belong to you. You see, take a look at my face for the last time; I never knew you, you never knew me, say hello goodbye, say hello wave goodbye.โ
In the second verse, under the deep red light, the singer can see the makeup sliding down his partnerโs face. He urges her to take off her unbecoming frown, reminds her that she will always make up and that he will find someone else for a steady life. The partner is going off the rails, and he wants no part of it. The singer has been involved with his partner for a while now, and it has been hell keeping it a secret. Now they are strangers meeting for the first time, and he urges her to smile and say hello, say hello then wave goodbye.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing in the door of the Pink Flamingo
I am standing outside this venue and I am emotional.
Crying in the rain
It is raining outside and I am crying.
It was a kind of so so love
Our romantic relationship was mediocre at best.
And I'm going to make sure it never
Happens again
I am determined to avoid another mediocre relationship.
You and I
We were involved romantically.
It had to be
People thought our relationship was funny.
The standing joke of the year
Our relationship was the most talked about joke of the year.
You were a sleep around
You were promiscuous.
A lost and found
You were someone who needed to be saved.
And not for me I fear
I did not feel that I could save you.
I tried to make it work
I tried to improve our relationship.
You in a cocktail skirt
You were wearing a skirt that I did not approve of.
And me in a suit
I was wearing formal attire.
(Well it just wasn't me)
But it did not feel comfortable for me.
You're used to wearing less
You are used to dressing more provocatively.
And now your life's a mess
And now your life is in a state of disarray.
So insecure you see
You are very insecure.
I put up with all the scenes
I tolerated all of your outbursts and overreactions.
And this is one scene
But this kind of behavior will not be tolerated anymore.
That's going to be played my way
I will be in control of this situation from now on.
Take your hands off me
Stop touching me.
I don't belong to you, you see
I am not your possession.
Take a look at my face
Examine my facial expression.
For the last time
This is the final opportunity.
I never knew you
I did not truly know who you were.
Say hello goodbye
Our relationship is ending.
Under the deep red light
In this dimly lit environment.
I can see the makeup sliding down
I can see that your makeup is starting to run.
Hey little girl you will always make up
It seems like you always put on makeup.
So take off that unbecoming frown
Stop making that unpleasant facial expression.
What about me- well
As for me,
I'll find someone
I will find a new romantic partner.
That's not going cheap in the sales
Someone who is not willing to settle for less than their worth.
A nice little housewife
Someone who is content with being a homemaker.
Who'll give me a steady life
Someone who will provide me with a stable, predictable lifestyle.
And won't keep going off the rails
And who will not behave in an erratic or unpredictable manner.
We've been involved
For quite a while now
We have been in this relationship for a considerable amount of time.
And to keep you secret has been hell
Keeping our relationship secret has been very difficult.
We're strangers meeting for the first time, okay?
We are essentially strangers to each other now.
Just smile and say hello
Let's be polite and greet each other.
Say hello then wave goodbye
Our relationship is over, let's acknowledge each other and move on.
Goodbye
Farewell.
Lyrics ยฉ Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID BALL, MARC ALMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CRAB JAB
One of the greatest songs ever written and never gets enough airtime or love.
This is a painful song to hear for me and makes me cry. Utterly magical.
Barry Potter
Still puts shivers down my spine and I'm nearly 54
CRAB JAB
@Barry Potter itโs just one of those records isnโt it.
Barry Potter
@CRAB JAB definitely well said my friend amazing
Treats and Threads youtube
It was a super hit. Finds a new audience every year
R1T5 O
I agree. Really no radio time for such a great. Instead tainted love is overplayed
Mister Matix
Dave Ball laughing at 2:36, just shows these talented musicians are really good friends, you can see the love and warmth between them. C'mon Dave & Marc, keep Soft Cell alive, your majestic songs are perfect. It shows a fantastically well written back catalog, that when, even re-recorded in a new version, they still sound masterful. What a band.
David Ramone Morrison
Maybe they fell out at some point , I lost track of them but the love never faded really by the looks and sound of this They are sublime together.
Mister Matix
@David Ramone Morrison they're absolutely brilliant, been a fan since a kid. Can't wait for the new album. Marc Almond, what a voice! He could teach this new rabble (with a couple of exceptions) of so called singers, dependent on auto tune and effects a thing or two, he's really got the goods.
Chris Marsh
@Mister Matix hearing how Marc Almond wavers around a note without actually hitting it, I almost begin to think that autotune has its place.