He became widely known for his version of "Wind Beneath My Wings" (1982), as well as his own compositions "Durham Town (The Leavin')" (1969) and "I Don't Believe in If Anymore" (1970), his 1970 hit "New World in the Morning" and his 1975 hit "The Last Farewell" (his only single to hit the US Billboard Hot 100, making it to the Top 20).
Whittakers first chart success came in 1969 when "Durham Town (The Leavin')" was his first UK Top 20 hit. In 1970 came two follow-up hits, "I Don't Believe In If Anymore" (Top 10) and "New World In The Morning" (Top 20), and 1971 brought two smaller hit singles "Why" and "Mamy Blue".
Whittaker was absent from the UK singles chart until 1975, when "The Last Farewell" went Top 3, after which it was another eleven years until "Skye Boat Song" returned him to the Top 10 of the singles chart.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Whittaker had success in Germany, with German language songs produced by Nick Munro (unable to speak German at that time, Whittaker sang the songs phonetically). In time he became more fluent in German and sang and was interviewed in German on Danish television in November 2008. Whittaker retired from touring in 2013.
By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Roger Whittaker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She'll find the note I left hangin' on her door
She'll laugh when she reads the part that says I'm leavin'
'Cause I've left that girl so many times before
By the time I make Albuquerque she'll be working
She'll prob'ly stop at lunch and give me a call
But she'll just hear that phone keep on ringin'
By the time I make Oklahoma she'll be sleepin'
She'll turn softly and call my name out loud
And she'll cry just to think I'd really leave her
Tho' time and time I try to tell her so
She just didn't know I would really go.
The song "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" by Roger Whittaker tells the story of a man who has left a woman countless times before and is now leaving again, prompting a series of emotional reactions from her. The lyrics describe his journey as he travels to different locations, imagining how the woman will react to his departure. The opening line about Phoenix symbolizes the beginning of a new day, while also representing a turning point in the relationship as the man resolves to leave. The note he leaves on her door is a cowardly way of breaking up with her, as he knows he cannot face her in person.
As he travels to Albuquerque, he imagines that the woman will call him at lunch, but he knows he will not answer. This reveals his lack of commitment and his desire to avoid confrontation. In Oklahoma, he imagines the woman sleeping and calling out his name, crying because she didn't think he would actually leave. This suggests that she is still invested in the relationship, while the man is detached and uncompromising. The repetition of the phrase "time and time again" emphasizes how many times the man has left her before, and how she has always forgiven him.
The song captures the cycle of a toxic relationship, where one person repeatedly hurts and leaves the other, only to come back and do it again. The man is aware of his own flaws and the harm he is causing, but he cannot help himself. Ultimately, the song evokes a sense of sadness and regret, as the man realizes that he has lost someone who truly loved him.
Line by Line Meaning
By the time I get to Phoenix she'll be rising
It will take me so long to travel to Phoenix that by the time I arrive there, the sun will already be rising.
She'll find the note I left hangin' on her door
I left a note on her door to let her know that I have left.
She'll laugh when she reads the part that says I'm leavin'
She will find it funny that I have left her once again, as I have done many times before.
'Cause I've left that girl so many times before
I have left her so many times before that she is no longer surprised or hurt by my departure.
By the time I make Albuquerque she'll be working
It will take me a long time to travel to Albuquerque and by the time I arrive there, she will already be at work.
She'll prob'ly stop at lunch and give me a call
She may take a break from work to call me during her lunch break.
But she'll just hear that phone keep on ringin'
She will hear my phone ringing, but I will not answer, leaving her with no choice but to hang up.
Off the wall that's all
The phone will just keep ringing until it goes to voicemail.
By the time I make Oklahoma she'll be sleepin'
It will take me even longer to travel to Oklahoma, so by the time I arrive there, she will be asleep.
She'll turn softly and call my name out loud
She will wake up and call out my name softly, hoping that I am there with her.
And she'll cry just to think I'd really leave her
She will cry at the thought that I have actually left her, even though I have told her many times before that I would.
Tho' time and time I try to tell her so
Despite my attempts to tell her that I will leave, she still doesn't believe me.
She just didn't know I would really go.
She didn't think I would actually leave her, but I have done it so many times before that it has become a pattern.
Contributed by Taylor V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@zeldasmith6494
Beautiful ❤
@tomkent4656
RIP.
@guitarheroguy5
I've been asking for this song forever no one seems to know it. I looked so long, I'm glad you uploaded it, my cassette is wearing out.
@thomashoffmann161
*****