Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
Maxine Sullivan & Teddy Wilson and His Quartet Lyrics

The song "Every Time We Say Goodbye" by Maxine Sullivan is a poignant and melancholic expression of the emotions that arise when a loved one has to depart. The opening line, "Every time we say goodbye, I die a little," is a powerful poetic expression of the pain felt when a relationship is cut short, and the heartache that comes with its inevitable end. The line is notable for the way it conveys the finality of the situation, and the way it elicits empathy from the listener.

The song continues with an expression of perplexity and questioning, "Every time we say goodbye, I wonder why a little," which highlights the mystery and complexity of love and the feelings that arise when it is taken away. The subsequent lines contrast the joy and lightness of being in love with the sadness and despair that inevitably comes with separation. When the singer is near their loved one, "there's such an air of spring about it," and "there's no love song finer," but every time they say goodbye, there is a "strange change from major to minor," which is a reference to the shift from the bright, major key to the darker, minor key. This metaphorical shift emphasizes the different emotional states that are evoked by being with someone versus being without them.