Kelly was born in Kingston in 1949. After leaving school, he spent a year studying electronics in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States during 1966, before returning to Jamaica. In 1967, when Slim Smith left The Techniques, Kelly was brought in to replace him, recording for Duke Reid in the rocksteady era when Reid's Treasure Isle studio/label was dominating Jamaican music. Kelly's falsetto voice, strongly influenced by the American soul singers Curtis Mayfield, Smokey Robinson and Sam Cooke in combination with Winston Riley and Bruce Ruffin, maintained the success that The Techniques had enjoyed with Smith. The Techniques first record with Kelly, "You Don't Care", adapted from Curtis Mayfield's "You'll Want Me Back", spent six weeks at number one in the Jamaican singles chart, and was followed by further hits with "Queen Majesty", "My Girl", "Love Is Not a Gamble", "It's You I Love", and "Run Come Celebrate".
In 1968, Kelly went solo, moving from Reid to Bunny Lee, and debuting with another Mayfield cover, "Little Boy Blue". Kelly's "How Long Will It Take" was the biggest-selling Jamaican single of 1969, and was the first Jamaican record to feature a string arrangement, which was overdubbed when it was released in the United Kingdom on the Palmer Brothers' Gas label. An album followed, the Lee "Scratch" Perry-engineered Pat Kelley Sings (sic), and Kelly was offered a £25,000 contract by Apple Records, which he was unable to accept due to existing contractual commitments. Kelly continued to record, having a big hits for producer Phil Pratt in 1972 with "Soulful Love" and "Talk About Love", and returning to record with Duke Reid, having another hit with a cover of John Denver's "Sunshine". He fell back on his earlier training, working as an engineer at Channel One Studios. He also moved into production, producing his own Youth and Youth album in 1978, and co-producing (with Holt) John Holt's The Impressable John Holt (Disco Mix) album in 1979.The late 1970s and early 1980s saw Kelly recording more regularly again, and he continued to record occasionally in the years that followed.
Kelly died on 16 July 2019 from complications of kidney disease.
You Don't Care
Pat Kelly Lyrics
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Hold me each evenings at your side
Tell me you love me for a million year
Then if it don't work out
Then if it don't work out
Then you can tell me goodbye
Soften my dreams with your sigh
Tell me you love me for a million year
Then if it don't work out
Then if it don't work out
Then you can tell me goodbye
Oh but if you must leave without saying goodbye
Then it's the right time to say it now
But if you must go, I won't tell you no
So we can say that we tried
Tell me you love me for a million year
Then if it don't work out
Then if it don't work out
Then you can tell me goodbye
Oh, if it don't work out
Baby, I'd like to know
I said I love, love, love, love, love, love
I said I love you so
I said I need you
The song "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" by Pat Kelly is a classic love ballad that speaks of a love that lasts for a million years. The lyrics speak of a love so deep that the singer wants to be kissed every morning for a million years and held each evening at their side. The chorus repeats the line "Tell me you love me for a million year, then if it don't work out, then you can tell me goodbye." This suggests that the singer is willing to commit to a long-term relationship, but if it doesn't work out in the end, they will be okay with parting ways.
The second verse continues with the theme of this deep love. The singer wants their coffee sweetened with morning kisses and their dreams softened with their partner's sighs. They continue to ask their partner to commit to a million-year love affair, but acknowledge that if it doesn't work out, they won't be heartbroken: "If it don't work out, baby, I'd like to know. I said I love, love, love, love, love, love. I said I love you so. I said I need you."
The song ends with a plea to their partner that if they have to leave, to at least say goodbye. This emphasizes the singer's desire to be with their partner for the long haul, but also acknowledges that life doesn't always work out as planned.
Overall, the song is a beautiful testament to the idea of a long-lasting, meaningful relationship. It speaks to the idea that true love lasts forever, and that even if it doesn't work out, it's worth it to try.
Line by Line Meaning
Kiss me each mornings for a million year
Start each day with a kiss and keep doing so for a million years
Hold me each evenings at your side
End each day holding me by your side
Tell me you love me for a million year
Promise to love me for eternity
Then if it don't work out
In case things do not go as planned
Then if it don't work out
In case things do not go as planned
Then you can tell me goodbye
You can say goodbye if things do not work out despite the promise to love me for eternity
Sweeten my coffee with a morning kiss
Add sweetness to my mornings with a kiss and coffee
Soften my dreams with your sigh
Ease my dreams with the sound of your sigh
Tell me you love me for a million year
Promise to love me for eternity
Then if it don't work out
In case things do not go as planned
Then if it don't work out
In case things do not go as planned
Then you can tell me goodbye
You can say goodbye if things do not work out despite the promise to love me for eternity
Oh but if you must leave without saying goodbye
If you really have to go without the chance to say goodbye
Then it's the right time to say it now
Then, say it now before you leave
But if you must go, I won't tell you no
But, if you must leave, I won't stop you
So we can say that we tried
Let's say that we gave it our best shot
Tell me you love me for a million year
Reaffirm the promise to love me for eternity
Then if it don't work out
In case things do not go as planned
Then if it don't work out
In case things do not go as planned
Then you can tell me goodbye
You can say goodbye if things do not work out despite the promise to love me for eternity
Oh, if it don't work out
If things do not work out
Baby, I'd like to know
I would appreciate knowing
I said I love, love, love, love, love, love
I am telling you that I love you so much
I said I love you so
I am expressing my love for you
I said I need you
I am telling you that I need you in my life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PAT KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind