Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye
Roberta Flack Lyrics


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I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm,
Your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm,
Yes, many loved before us, I know that we are not new,
In city and in forest they smiled like me and you,
But now it's come to distances and both of us must try,
Your eyes are soft with sorrow,
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye.
I'm not looking for another as I wander in my time,
Walk me to the corner, our steps will always rhyme
You know my love goes with you as your love stays with me,
It's just the way it changes, like the shoreline and the sea,
But let's not talk of love or chains and things we can't untie,
Your eyes are soft with sorrow,
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye.

I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm,
Your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm,
Yes many loved before us, I know that we are not new,
In city and in forest they smiled like me and you,
But let's not talk of love or chains and things we can't untie,




Your eyes are soft with sorrow,
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye.

Overall Meaning

The song "Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye" by Roberta Flack is a beautiful depiction of two lovers who are parting ways, but with a sense of deep affection for each other. The opening lines describe their past physical intimacy with each other, with "kisses deep and warm" and "your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm." The singer acknowledges that theirs was not the first love, as "many loved before us," but laments the distance between them that has led to their separation. The line "both of us must try" suggests that their parting was not entirely by choice but perhaps an inevitable result of circumstances.


The second stanza is a somber reflection on the nature of love and how it changes over time. The couple walks together to the corner, their footsteps in sync, but the singer acknowledges that their love must also change like the shoreline and the sea, constantly shifting and evolving. The line "let's not talk of love or chains and things we can't untie" suggests a desire not to dwell on regrets or what-ifs. The singer reminds her lover that she will always carry his love with her, hoping that he will do the same.


The repeated refrain "hey, that's no way to say goodbye" conveys a sense of sadness and longing that is palpable throughout the song. It suggests that there is no easy or painless way to part from someone you love deeply. The song evokes a bittersweet mixture of joy, melancholy, and hope that is often felt when a romantic relationship comes to an end.


Line by Line Meaning

I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm,
I cherished our moments together, especially those in the morning when our affection was strong and passionate.


Your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm,
The way your hair fell on the pillow resembled a beautiful, peaceful storm and added to our cozy atmosphere.


Yes, many loved before us, I know that we are not new,
Others before us have experienced this kind of love before, so our love is not new, but it's still special to us.


In city and in forest they smiled like me and you,
Even in different settings, other couples have shared the same love that we do, and it was evident in their smiles.


But now it's come to distances and both of us must try,
We're facing the challenge of distance and must put in effort to maintain our love despite the physical separation.


Your eyes are soft with sorrow,
Your eyes show sadness, perhaps because of the difficulties we face, but I still love you.


Hey, that's no way to say goodbye.
We shouldn't end things with sadness, as if we're saying goodbye forever, instead we should remember our love and cherish it.


I'm not looking for another as I wander in my time,
Although I'm living my life, I'm not going to seek out someone else because our love still lives on in my heart.


Walk me to the corner, our steps will always rhyme
Even if we're saying goodbye for now, let's still walk together in harmony and remember the good times we shared.


You know my love goes with you as your love stays with me,
Even if we're not physically together, we still carry our love for each other in our hearts.


It's just the way it changes, like the shoreline and the sea,
Our love has changed naturally, like how the shoreline and the sea shift with time, and that's okay.


But let's not talk of love or chains and things we can't untie,
Let's not dwell on the things we can't change, like the fact that we're apart, and instead cherish the moments we had together.


Your eyes are soft with sorrow,
Again, your eyes show sadness, but I still love you just the same.


Hey, that's no way to say goodbye.
We shouldn't say goodbye with sadness and sorrow, but with the love and care we shared when we were together.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Leonard Cohen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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