Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
Laurindo Almeida; Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
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Every time we say goodbye, I wonder why a little
Why the gods above me, who must be in the know
think so little of me that they allow you go
When your near there's such an air of Spring about it
I can hear a lark somewhere begin to sing about it
There's no love song finer but how strange
Every time we say goodbye
The song "Every Time We Say Goodbye" is a poignant and emotional song about the pain of parting from a loved one. The lyrics express the singer's feelings of sadness and confusion, wondering why the gods above would allow his lover to go. The opening lines "Every time we say goodbye, I die a little / Every time we say goodbye, I wonder why a little," are particularly powerful, conveying the sense of loss and grief that accompanies goodbye.
The second stanza describes the feeling of being near the loved one, with an "air of Spring about it" and the sound of a lark beginning to sing. Yet, despite this beauty, there is a sense of sadness and unease, depicted in the lines "There's no love song finer but how strange / The change from major to minor / Every time we say goodbye." This reference to music theory – the difference between a major and minor key – highlights the pain and sorrow of separation, and the shifting emotions that go along with it.
Overall, the song is a beautiful and moving depiction of the sadness and emotional turmoil that comes with saying goodbye to someone you love.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time we say goodbye, I die a little
The pain of parting with you is so strong that each time we say goodbye, a part of me seems to perish.
Every time we say goodbye, I wonder why a little
After every goodbye, I can't help but question why we must endure the agony of separation.
Why the gods above me, who must be in the know
I can't comprehend why the higher powers, who I assume are all-knowing, would allow us to suffer through this heartache.
think so little of me that they allow you go
It feels as though the gods don't value me enough to keep you by my side.
When your near there's such an air of Spring about it
Your presence brings a sense of new beginnings and a fresh start, such as that felt in Spring.
I can hear a lark somewhere begin to sing about it
Being near you elicits such joy that even the birds seem to sing in celebration.
There's no love song finer but how strange
Our love is so beautiful, yet it's bizarre how every goodbye leads to such pain.
The change from major to minor
Despite the beauty of our love song, it's devastating how easily it shifts from a joyful major key to a mournful minor key.
Every time we say goodbye
Each instance of saying goodbye is a reminder of how excruciating it is to be apart from you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Sentric Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rod Kilpatrick
Thanks for posting this. I hadn't heard it before. It reminds us of just how good a singer Davis was, even in the absence of lavish, Vegas-style musical accompaniment. And my hat's off to Almeida, too.