After You
Loudon Wainwright III 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 of Loudon Wainwright III's "After You've Gone" speak of heartbreak and regret in the aftermath of a breakup. The singer pleads with his lover not to leave him, begging her not to break his heart. He professes his love and devotion and warns her that she will regret her decision to leave him. The chorus echoes the sentiment that the departing lover will eventually feel sadness and miss the singer deeply, and that one day she'll come to regret the decision she's making.


Throughout the song, there is a sense of vulnerability and desperation in the singer's voice, as he tries to convince his lover to stay with him. There is a longing for connection and a fear of being alone that permeates the lyrics, as the singer knows that he will suffer deeply once his love is gone. The lyrics also suggest a type of poetic justice, as the singer predicts that the departing lover will one day feel the same pain he's experiencing, and will understand the depth of his love for her.


Overall, "After You've Gone" is a classic representation of the heartbreak song genre, with its raw emotion and poignant lyrics. It captures the pain and sadness of losing someone you love, and the fear that comes with facing the prospect of life without them.


Line by Line Meaning

Now won't you listen honey, while I say,
The singer is pleading with their partner to listen to what they have to say.


How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
The singer is shocked and hurt that their partner would suddenly announce their departure.


Don't say that we must part,
The singer is begging for their partner not to leave them.


Don't break your baby's heart
The artist is reminding their partner that leaving will devastate them.


You know I've loved you for these many years,
The artist has been in love with their partner for a long time.


Loved you night and day,
The singer has loved their partner deeply, constantly, and without fail.


Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
The singer is crying in front of their partner, hoping they will recognize the pain they are causing.


Listen while I say:
The artist wants their partner to hear their plea.


After you've gone and left me cryin'
The artist is predicting a future where their partner has left and they are heartbroken as a result.


After you've gone there's no denyin'
The artist is acknowledging that their partner may indeed leave them.


You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
The singer expects their partner to experience negative emotions after leaving them.


You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
The artist believes they were their partner's closest friend and they will regret leaving them.


There'll come a time, now don't forget it
The singer is warning their partner that they will come to regret their decision to leave.


There'll come a time when you'll regret it
The singer is certain that their partner will have remorse for leaving them.


Someday, when you grow lonely
The singer believes that their partner will eventually feel lonely.


Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
The artist believes that their partner will experience heartbreak and come back to them.


After you've gone, after you've gone away
The artist is acknowledging their partner's departure.


You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
The singer repeats their prediction that their partner will feel negative emotions.


You're gonna feel bad
The singer is further emphasizing their belief that their partner will feel regret.


And you'll miss, and you'll miss,
The artist expects their partner will miss them.


And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had
The artist believes that they were their partner's closest friend.


But baby, think what you're doin'
The artist is pleading with their partner to consider the consequences of their actions.


I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so
The singer is threatening their partner with constant reminders of what they lost.


It's gonna drive you to ruin
The artist is predicting that their partner will be driven to ruin by their regret.


After you've gone, after you've gone away.
The singer is reiterating their acknowledgment of their partner's impending departure.




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

the specter....

Simplemente genial.

bparrish114

What a great song!!

ColdwaR

Uma boa mĂşsica đź‘Ť

qewr4231

Loudon Wainwright. Is this the guy from the first season of M*A*S*H that sung all the songs? He composed songs and sung them with his guitar?

Jennifer Ford

wow - I see where Rufus gets is love for Judy - had no idea Loudon sang this song!

alex bishop

genial

Gustavo adolfo 18

Good music

Major Kong

Flying over 1927 Los Angeles at night.

f. de Valois

thanks!

Kevin Autorino

The Aviator.

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