Sedaka wrote his 1959 hit "Oh! Carol" about his then-girlfriend, Carol Klein, later to become Carole King. In 1963, King released a humorous answer entitled "Oh Neil".
The Laughter In the Rain Songfacts says Sedaka's hits dried up when The Beatles arrived, but then he teamed up with the lyricist Philip Cody and had a a number 1 hit with "Laughter In The Rain." It re-ignited Sedaka's career and he had 6 more Top-40 hits in America by 1977.
Sedaka's voice is in the tenor range.
Goodbye
Neil Sedaka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life goes on here seriously
No time for harmony, just a lotta hot air
Go join the underground
If you think the world has lost it's mind
You oughta hang around with people
Of your own kind
After all we're nothin' to each other
My name's Goodman, my good man, goodbye
Seems like every year people like
You come waltzin' by
Drift in and outa here, like a butterfly
I've seen 'em come and go
Glittering queens and movie stars
Don't give a damn you know
Whoever the hell you are
Man, you better think again if you've been
Thinkin' there's a chance for dancin' here
Here, we've found a little peace and
We're determined to preserve it
Do I make myself clear?
Hey there, gotta beware
Life goes on here seriously
No time for harmony, just a lotta hot air
Go join the underground
If you think the world has lost it's mind
You oughta hang around with people
Of your own kind
Gotta lotta nerve to call me "Brother"
After all we're nothin' to each other
My name's Goodman, my good man, goodbye
These lyrics to Neil Sedaka's song "Goodbye" depict a character who is expressing a sense of caution and wariness towards someone who is different from them. The singer sees life as a serious affair and believes that there is no time for harmony or peaceful coexistence. They dismiss the idea of finding common ground and suggest that the person they are addressing should join the "underground," a metaphorical representation of a marginalized or outcast group.
The singer challenges the person's audacity in calling them "brother" or trying to establish a bond between them. They emphasize that they are strangers and that the connection is insignificant. The singer identifies themselves as "Goodman," a play on words suggesting that they consider themselves to be a good man, perhaps implying that they believe they are more righteous or morally superior.
The following paragraph suggests that the singer has encountered similar individuals in the past. They describe these people as casually passing through their life like butterflies, coming and going without leaving a lasting impact. The singer implies that they have witnessed the arrival and departure of renowned figures, such as glamorous queens and movie stars, without being impressed or concerned about their status. Regardless of who these individuals may be, the singer asserts their indifference and suggests that their identity is inconsequential.
The singer warns the person to reconsider if they believe there is any opportunity for connection or engagement in their environment. They assert that they have found a small measure of peace and are determined to protect it, implying that the person's presence may disrupt this tranquility. The singer concludes by reiterating their name as "Goodman" and using it to assert their authority in bidding the individual farewell. The repetition of "goodbye" at the end suggests a finality to the interaction and underscores the singer's desire for separation.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey there, gotta beware
Pay attention and be cautious
Life goes on here seriously
Life continues with seriousness and importance
No time for harmony, just a lotta hot air
There is no time for peaceful coexistence, only empty talk and noise
Go join the underground
If you believe the world is crazy, go associate with like-minded individuals
If you think the world has lost its mind
If you believe that society is irrational
You oughta hang around with people of your own kind
You should spend time with others who share your views
Gotta lotta nerve to call me 'Brother'
You are audacious to consider me as family
After all we're nothin' to each other
In reality, we have no significant relationship
My name's Goodman, my good man, goodbye
I prefer to be called Goodman and bid you farewell
Seems like every year people like you come waltzin' by
It appears that every year individuals with your characteristics appear casually
Drift in and outa here, like a butterfly
They enter and leave this place without commitment, similar to a butterfly's flight pattern
I've seen 'em come and go
I have witnessed their arrival and departure
Glittering queens and movie stars
Prominent and glamorous individuals
Don't give a damn you know
They don't care, as you are aware
Whoever the hell you are
Regardless of your identity
Man, you better think again if you've been thinkin' there's a chance for dancin' here
You should reconsider if you have been hoping for a lighthearted and carefree environment
Here, we've found a little peace and we're determined to preserve it
In this place, we have discovered some tranquility and are committed to maintaining it
Do I make myself clear?
Have I expressed myself unambiguously?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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