Good-Bye
Matt is a native New Yorker who grew up in Virginia Beach, VA. He has acte… Read Full Bio ↴Matt is a native New Yorker who grew up in Virginia Beach, VA. He has acted in the theater throughout his life, from small community theaters in Virginia to Broadway, where he played the role of Mark in the musical RENT through the summer of 2006. An accomplished guitar player, Matt has been composing and performing songs for almost 10 years, and has toured the country playing in over 25 states and independently building a nationwide fanbase through concerts and record sales. Both of Matt's records - a self-titled demo (no longer in production) and Overtones (still available through mattcaplan.com or cdbaby.com) - are acoustic albums, and range in influence from folk to rock to classical. He is currently working on his first full-band record release.
---Courtesy (mostly) of the official matt caplan website---

Good-Bye
Matt Caplan Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

And I feel them closing in
Setting war against the battleground
Both armies crowned 22 years ago
But the blood they spill is mine
Spilling out like so much motor oil
Into my ocean, into your ocean
Eyes to the sky
White flag raised high
Then I turn to find your light
Infinite in warmth and infinite in wisdom
I'm endlessly in search of a sign that's believable
But oh Lord, save me from the fear
I'm blinded by its sight
But I'll find thee when it's light
How we turned I don't know
And we're still awake to greet the gray
When Saturday slips slowly into the past
Are we wise beyond our years or just old before our time?
And does she see it?
I think she sees it
Where did she go?
What don't I know?
Then I turn to find her eyes
Infinite in warmth and infinite in pain and so wise
And endlessly in search of a love that is tangible
But oh Lord, save her from the fear
I think she's deafened by the fight
But I only said goodnight
I'm taking more than you've got
I know, I know
You know, you know your own mind
This is taking more than I have
You know, you know
I know, I know my own heart now
Infinite in love
And we are endlessly in search of an ending that's feasible
But oh Lord, why the urgent aching?




Why the urge to cry?
Can I muster up goodbye?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Matt Caplan's song Goodbye are emotional and engaging. The first verse begins with a metaphor of the singer feeling the world's problems and troubles overwhelming him. The line "Setting war against the battleground" suggests that the problems he faces are pressing and unrelenting. The second line refers to two armies that were crowned 22 years ago, maybe a reference to some famous historical event or something personal to the singer. However, the singer feels like he is the one bleeding from the wounds and the one left to pay the price for the armies' battles. The use of "motor oil" is a strong image of something dark and dirty polluting the singer's life and relationships with others.


In the chorus, the singer raises a white flag and attempts to find the light in his life, a sign of hope and something believable. He acknowledges his fear and how it blinds him, but he makes a promise to himself to continue his search for something better. In the second verse, the singer wonders about life's mysteries and whether we are wise or just old before our time. The line "Are we wise beyond our years or just old before our time?" captures the uncertainty and confusion that the singer feels about his place in the world. He then turns to the eyes of his loved one and finds comfort in their warmth and wisdom. However, he is still searching for a love that is tangible, someone to hold onto and understand.


The ending of the song tackles the idea of goodbye and what it means when something comes to an end. The singer is struggling with the urgency of leaving or saying goodbye and questioning why he feels the need to cry. The line "Can I muster up goodbye?" suggests that leaving or saying goodbye is harder than the singer thought, and he is unsure if he can find the strength to do so. Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of a person who is searching for something, whether it be love or hope or closure, and is struggling to find it in a world that is a constant battle.


Line by Line Meaning

And I feel them closing in
I sense the pressure and tension mounting


Setting war against the battleground
Making the battleground itself an object of war


Both armies crowned 22 years ago
The combatants were declared victors a long time ago


But the blood they spill is mine
I am a victim of their ongoing struggle


Spilling out like so much motor oil
Flowing out uncontrollably like spilled oil


Into my ocean, into your ocean
The damage spills out into both our worlds


Eyes to the sky
Looking up for help or guidance


White flag raised high
Surrendering or indicating non-violence


Then I turn to find your light
Looking to a source of hope or inspiration


Infinite in warmth and infinite in wisdom
Full of kindness and understanding


I'm endlessly in search of a sign that's believable
Looking for a reliable symbol or indication


But oh Lord, save me from the fear
Asking for protection from overwhelming anxiety


I'm blinded by its sight
The fear is so intense as to prevent clear thinking or vision


But I'll find thee when it's light
Hopeful of finding help or insight when things are brighter


How we turned I don't know
I'm not sure how we ended up in this situation


And we're still awake to greet the gray
We are still up, facing a bleak or uncertain situation


When Saturday slips slowly into the past
When the weekend fades away and normal life resumes


Are we wise beyond our years or just old before our time?
Wondering whether we are mature or jaded


And does she see it?
Wondering if someone else is aware of this


I think she sees it
I believe she understands or is aware


Where did she go?
Wondering where someone has disappeared to


What don't I know?
Not sure what information is lacking


Then I turn to find her eyes
Looking for emotional connection or understanding


Infinite in warmth and infinite in pain and so wise
Full of emotion and also insight


And endlessly in search of a love that is tangible
Longing for a love that is palpable and real


But oh Lord, save her from the fear
Asking for help to overcome overwhelming worry


I think she's deafened by the fight
I feel that the conflict has made her unable to hear or listen


But I only said goodnight
Trying to end things on a good note


I'm taking more than you've got
Using up more than what's available or sustainable


I know, I know
Acknowledging that this is the case


You know, you know your own mind
You are aware of your own thoughts and decisions


This is taking more than I have
Becoming more than one is able to handle


You know, you know
You are aware of this too


I know, I know my own heart now
I understand my own emotions at this point


Infinite in love
Replete with love and affection


And we are endlessly in search of an ending that's feasible
Looking for a way to resolve this situation realistically


But oh Lord, why the urgent aching?
Asking why there is such intense yearning or desire


Why the urge to cry?
Wondering why there is so much sadness


Can I muster up goodbye?
Finding it difficult to say farewell




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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