Kirk was born Ronald Kirk on 7th August 1935, in Columbus, Ohio, but felt compelled by a dream to transpose two letters in his first name to make Roland. After another dream in about 1970 he added Rahsaan to his name.
His playing was generally rooted in soul jazz or hard bop, but Kirk's encyclopedic knowledge of jazz history allowed him to draw convincingly on any element of the music's history, from ragtime to swing and free jazz. Kirk also regularly explored classical and pop music.
Kirk played and collected a vast number of musical instruments, mainly various saxophones, clarinets, and flutes. His main instruments were tenor saxophone, and two obscure saxophones: the manzello (similar to a soprano sax) and the stritch (a straight alto sax lacking the instrument's characteristic upturned bell). Kirk modified these instruments himself to accommodate his simultaneous playing technique. He typically appeared on stage with all three horns hanging around his neck, as well as a variety of other instruments, including flutes and whistles. Kirk also played harmonica, cor anglais, recorders, and was a competent trumpeter. He often used unusual instruments or combinations of instrument parts, using a saxophone mouthpiece on a trumpet or playing nose flute. He additionally used many extramusical sounds in his music, such as alarm clocks, whistles, sirens, and even primitive electronic sounds (before such things became commonplace).
In addition to the saxophones, Kirk was also an influential flautist, employing several novel techniques that he developed himself. One technique was to sing or hum into the flute at the same time as playing. (This technique was adopted later by many other players, including Jeremy Steig and Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull.) Another was to play the standard transverse flute at the same time as a nose flute.
Never Can Say Goodbye
Rahsaan Roland Kirk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never can say goodbye
Even though the pain and heartache
Seem to follow me wherever I go
Though I try and try to hide my feelings
They always seem to show,
And I always have to say no
Tell me why is it so
That I never can say goodbye, no, no, no, no, now
Never can say goodbye
Every time I think I've had enough
And start heading for the door
There's a very strange vibration
Piercing me right through the core
It says, turn around, you fool
You know you love him more and more
Tell me why is it so
Don't wanna let you go
I never can say goodbye girl
Ooh ooh baby (don't wanna let you go girl)
I never can say goodbye, no no no, no no no
Ooh, oh I never can say goodbye girl
Ooh ooh ooh (don't wanna let you go girl)
I never can say goodbye, no no no, no no no, ooh
Never can say goodbye, no, no, no, no, now
Never can say goodbye
I keep thinking that our problems
Soon are all gonna work out
But there's that same unhappy feeling
There's that anguish, there's that doubt
It's the same old dizzy hangup
Can't do with you or without
Tell me why is it so
Don't wanna let you go
I never can say goodbye girl
Ooh ooh baby (hey baby)
I never can say goodbye, no no no, no no no
Ooh, oh I never can say goodbye girl
Ooh oh (hey baby)
I never can say goodbye, no no no, no no no, ooh
I never can say goodbye girl
Ooh ooh baby (hey baby)
I never can say goodbye, no no no, no no no
Ooh, oh I never can say goodbye girl
Ooh oh (hey baby)
The lyrics of "Never Can Say Goodbye" by Rahsaan Roland Kirk describe a situation in which the singer is unable to let go of their lover. They acknowledge that they always try to hide their true feelings, but they are unable to do so. The singer experiences a strange sensation whenever they think of leaving the relationship. This sense of doubt and hesitation is making it hard for them to let go of their lover. Even though the singer feels like their problems will work out eventually, they aren't entirely sure how.
The song is full of contradictions. The singer is trying to convince themselves that they can move on, but they are unable to do so. They keep choosing to stay and suffer rather than to end the relationship. The song is also an excellent example of a love song that's not all sweetness and light. It's a song that acknowledges the complexity of relationships and how they can be incredibly messy.
Line by Line Meaning
I never can say goodbye, no, no, no, no, now
I can never bring myself to say goodbye.
Never can say goodbye
I can never say goodbye.
Even though the pain and heartache
Despite the emotional distress,
Seem to follow me wherever I go
It feels like it's always present, wherever I am.
Though I try and try to hide my feelings
Even though I constantly attempt to conceal my emotions,
They always seem to show,
My feelings always come to the surface.
Then you try to say you're leaving me
When you attempt to tell me you're departing,
And I always have to say no
I constantly decline the offer.
Tell me why is it so
I'm desperate to understand why that's the case.
Every time I think I've had enough
Whenever I feel that I can't handle it anymore,
And start heading for the door
And begin to walk away,
There's a very strange vibration
A peculiar sensation arises.
Piercing me right through the core
It feels like it's penetrating my being.
It says, turn around, you fool
It's almost as if something is telling me to go back.
You know you love him more and more
I'm aware that I'm falling in love with you more and more.
Tell me why is it so
Once again, I'm desperate to comprehend why.
Don't wanna let you go
I can't bear the thought of losing you.
I never can say goodbye girl
I can never say goodbye to you.
Ooh ooh baby (don't wanna let you go girl)
I'm so in love with you.
Never can say goodbye, no no no, no no no
I can never say goodbye to you.
Every time I think I've had enough
Whenever I feel that I can't handle it anymore,
And start heading for the door
And begin to walk away,
There's a very strange vibration
That peculiar sensation arises again.
Piercing me right through the core
It feels like it's penetrating my being again.
It says, turn around, you fool
Once again, something tells me to go back.
You know you love him more and more
I'm well aware that my love for you keeps growing.
Tell me why is it so
I need to know why I can't say goodbye to you.
Don't wanna let you go
I refuse to let you go.
I never can say goodbye girl
I can never say goodbye to you.
Ooh ooh baby (hey baby)
I'm so in love with you.
Never can say goodbye, no no no, no no no, ooh
I can never say goodbye to you.
I keep thinking that our problems
I continue to believe that our issues,
Soon are all gonna work out
Will resolve themselves soon.
But there's that same unhappy feeling
But that same depressing sensation remains.
There's that anguish, there's that doubt
There's still that painful feeling and uncertainty.
It's the same old dizzy hangup
It's the same dizzying mental hurdle that I've faced before.
Can't do with you or without
I'm unable to determine whether I should stay or leave.
Tell me why is it so
I'm still unable to comprehend why that's the case.
Don't wanna let you go
I still can't bear the notion of losing you.
I never can say goodbye girl
I can never find it within myself to bid you farewell.
Ooh ooh baby (hey baby)
I'm in love with you, baby.
Never can say goodbye, no no no, no no no, ooh
I can never say goodbye to you.
I never can say goodbye girl
I can never bring myself to say goodbye to you.
Ooh ooh baby (hey baby)
I adore you so much, baby.
Never can say goodbye, no no no, no no no, ooh
I can never say goodbye to you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Clifton Davis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@arnoldconklin7782
Never can sat goodbye, happy 80th thank you for all the music
@kotomo1
I LOVE Rahsaan!!!! As a painter, I often strive to paint the colors which he saw in his dreams or while playing those great tunes...The essence of jazz being what it is - jazz being the blues...
@inflatedear7131
One of the masters.👍❤️
@mardenhill
no comments for this?!?!?! a) thanks so much for the upload! b) rahsaan roland kirk brings it: it's my favorite cover version of the song!
@TheBolillo310
yeah i love this version
@tagehergstrom2481
magic
@lyndellwilliams1312
Where are you back street boy's/are you hanging out with justein/if so pay attention to a genius. Now ill say goodbye.
@ronpaulrevered
Honestly, if Rahsaan would have covered back street boys instead of Jackson5 we would still be here rocking to his soul.
@wyndhleodumegwu253
Rahsaan Roland Kirk is happy to "Say Goodbye."
Is he on soprano saxophone or the stritch (sp)?
Whatever the instrument, let's join the "Au Revoir" !
A bientot!