after you’ve gone
Lionel Hampton Lyrics


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Now won't you listen honey, while I say,
How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Don't say that we must part,
Don't break your baby's heart

You know I've loved you for these many years,
Loved you night and day,
Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
Listen while I say

After you've gone and left me cryin'
After you've gone there's no denyin'
You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had

There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
Someday, when you grow lonely
Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
After you've gone, after you've gone away

After you've gone and left me cryin'
After you've gone there's no denyin'
You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
You're gonna feel bad
And you'll miss, and you'll miss,
And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had

There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
But baby, think what you're doin'
I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so




It's gonna drive you to ruin
After you've gone, after you've gone away.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Lionel Hampton's song "After You" depict a heartbroken narrator pleading with their departing lover not to leave them. The opening lines express the singer's disbelief: "How could you tell me that you're goin' away? Don't say that we must part, don't break your baby's heart." It's clear that the singer is deeply in love with the addressee, and the prospect of being separated from them is devastating.


As the song progresses, the singer warns the addressee of the pain they will feel once they're gone: "You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad, you'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had." The singer is convinced that the addressee will regret leaving them, and that they will come to realize the depth of the singer's love. The final lines of the song are haunting: "But baby, think what you're doin', I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so, it's gonna drive you to ruin, after you've gone, after you've gone away."


Hampton's "After You" is a classic example of a torch song. Torch songs are typically slow, sad love songs that express the sorrow and angst of unrequited love or a broken relationship. "After You" fits firmly within this tradition, with its melancholy melody and lyrics that express heartache and despair. The song was first recorded in 1927 by singer Marion Harris, and has since been covered by a number of artists, including Billie Holiday and Johnny Cash.


Line by Line Meaning

Now won't you listen honey, while I say,
I need you to pay attention to what I'm about to say


How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Why did you have to tell me that you're leaving?


Don't say that we must part,
Please don't suggest that we have to break up


Don't break your baby's heart
I'm begging you, don't hurt me like this


You know I've loved you for these many years,
I've been in love with you for a long time


Loved you night and day,
I've loved you day and night, all the time


Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
I'm crying and I need you to notice how much this hurts me


Listen while I say
Please pay attention to what I'm about to express


After you've gone and left me cryin'
Once you've left me and I'm crying


After you've gone there's no denyin'
It's undeniable that you will eventually leave


You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
You will feel down and unhappy


You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
You'll realize how much you miss the closest friend you've ever had


There'll come a time, now don't forget it
Events will take place in the future and don't ignore that fact


There'll come a time when you'll regret it
You'll regret your choice eventually


Someday, when you grow lonely
At some point in time, you'll become lonely


Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
You'll experience the pain I'm feeling and only then will you realize how much you want me


You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
You won't be happy and you will feel down


You're gonna feel bad
You will feel guilty for hurting me


And you'll miss, and you'll miss,
You'll regret not being with me


And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had
You'll realize that I was the best friend you had


But baby, think what you're doin'
Please consider what you're doing


I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so
I'll keep coming back in your thoughts and make you feel guilty


It's gonna drive you to ruin
This guilt will drive you to destruction


After you've gone, after you've gone away.
Once you've left completely and permanently




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Henry Creamer, Turner Layton, Ray Sherman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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DerLiesl

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All comments from YouTube:

50ways2leave

Douglas Tsunami The Original Thanks for the upload, it's off da chain! U get a subscription for this! Keep it coming str8t 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Brashon Pittman

Hell no I would definitely still go

sandra ritter

Love ❤awesome!!!!

Tyrone Brooks

I’d go. I’ve seen him four times

janie bonner Cheechee1960

Woo woo

Sharen Dillon

I went to the show when he came to Ohio and believe me it was well worth every penny with his fine ass❤️👑😍

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Plus Size Ego

This concert had to cost a lot. These ladies were about to risk it all. Lol.. I wish I could have went. This man did everything. ❤ I watched the whole thing and I was jamming 💃💃... I hate all that stuff went down. I really love R.Kelly music. I'm still gonna play it. 💯

MrDeas252

On God. I was playing it tonight at work. Now here I am 😅

Triva Gravia

If he was a gospel singer, imagine how many lives he would have won for Christ with such a dazzling voice....

Loc’d in Paris

He definitely had a whole gospel album

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