Gone Forever
Paul Williams Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Gone forever
I sit alone for hours
Wondering what went wrong and who's to blame
I was there to see a black cloud pulled across the sky
Wondering when it was that love began to die

Gone forever
Now gone but not forgotten
How could I forget the likes of you
Just the sight of you could make imaginations fly
Just to think about you almost makes me cry

Cause you were something to remember
Warm and lovely like the sun
Every morning still reminds me
Brings a tear that nearly blinds me
One more day to live through
One more day of living without you

Gone forever
And all the fools have told me
Try to find a life with someone new
Share the pillow where a dream once took the time to lie
Having known you I would never even try





Gone forever
Gone forever

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Paul Williams' "Gone Forever" describes the aftermath of a relationship that has ended. The singer is alone and contemplative, trying to figure out what went wrong and who is responsible for the end of the relationship. The imagery used to describe the emotions are powerful and evocative, with the singer comparing their sorrow to a black cloud that is pulled across the sky. The singer reflects on the positive aspects of the relationship, noting how warm and lovely their partner was, and how just the sight of them could inspire the imagination to fly. But the pain of the loss is overwhelming, and the singer is brought to tears just thinking about their former partner. The song ends with the realization that the person is gone forever, and the singer is left to live without them.


There is a sense of melancholy and wistfulness woven throughout the song. The lyrics are simple, but the emotion behind them is deep and heartfelt. The melody is gentle and lulling, adding to the sense of reflection and emotional pain. The song's title reflects the finality of the loss, and the fact that the singer cannot go back and change what happened. The song captures a universal feeling of heartbreak and sadness, making it resonate with many listeners who have gone through a similar experience.


Line by Line Meaning

Gone forever
The person he loved is gone from his life forever.


I sit alone for hours
The writer spends countless hours sitting and thinking about the past.


Wondering what went wrong and who's to blame
The writer is struggling to understand the reasons behind the end of the relationship.


I was there to see a black cloud pulled across the sky
The writer saw the signs that the relationship was ending, but didn't know when love would die.


Wondering when it was that love began to die
The writer is trying to pinpoint the exact moment the relationship began to deteriorate.


Now gone but not forgotten
Although the person is gone, their memory will always be with the writer.


How could I forget the likes of you
The writer is asking how it's possible to forget someone so special.


Just the sight of you could make imaginations fly
The person had a profound impact on the writer's imagination and creativity.


Just to think about you almost makes me cry
The writer is emotional and saddened by the end of the relationship.


Cause you were something to remember
The person was unforgettable and will always be remembered by the writer.


Warm and lovely like the sun
The person was warm and loving, similar to the sun's life-giving qualities.


Every morning still reminds me
The writer is reminded of the person every morning.


Brings a tear that nearly blinds me
The writer is emotionally overwhelmed when remembering the person.


One more day to live through
The writer is struggling to move on from the end of the relationship and faces each day as a challenge.


One more day of living without you
The writer is living life without the person they loved and misses them deeply.


And all the fools have told me
The writer has been advised by others to move on and find someone new.


Try to find a life with someone new
The writer has been told to move on and start a new relationship.


Share the pillow where a dream once took the time to lie
The writer is hesitant to share intimacy with someone new because of the special connection they shared with the person they loved before.


Having known you I would never even try
The writer knows that no one could ever compare to the person they loved before and is hesitant to move on.




Contributed by Aiden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

George Keskeny

An incredibly beautiful but very sad song.

Bob Stinziano

Now that is a love song.

Juanita Saavedra

I was a young girl..I heard Paul williams when I was 9 years old and loved him since. Such a melancolic voice, beautiful, so nostalgic. It still brings tears to my eyes.

Zhay Rodzen, Ph. D.

A song that can touch one the way this one does, and indeed the way all of Paul's songs do, can only be inspired by one who's truly experienced many levels of that emotion.

J. Carlo Pinto

I saw Paul Williams in concert in 1975. Wonderful evening. Freddie Prinze was his opening act! Memorable.

mark kershner

Roger Nichols and Paul wrote the best songs of the 1970's

Linda Adams

what an honour to make the first comment on this beautiful, soulful, meaningful song by Paul........

Luckydog -

"share a pillow where a dream once took the time to lie"

Instant Opus

every morning brings a tear that nearly blinds me

American Coyote

wags finger youuuuuuu

More Comments

More Versions