The Long Goodbye
Ronan Keating Lyrics


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I know they say if you love somebody you should set them free
But it sure is hard to do
It sure is hard to do
I know they say if they don't come back again then it's meant to be
Those words ain't pulling me through
'Cause I'm still I love with you
I spend each day here waiting for a miracle
But it's just you and me going through the mill climbing up a hill

Chorus
This is the long goodbye
Somebody tell me why
Two lovers in love can't make it
Just what kind of love keeps breaking a heart
No matter how hard I try
You're gonna make me cry
Come on baby it's over let's face it
All that's happening here is a long goodbye

Sometimes I ask my heart did we really give our love a chance
I know without a doubt
That we turned it inside out
And if we walked away it would make more sense
But it tears me up inside
Just to think we still could try
How long must we keep running on this carousel
Going round and round and never getting anywhere on a wing and prayer

This is the long goodbye
Somebody tell me why
Two lovers in love can't make it
Just what kind of love keeps breaking a heart
No matter how hard I try
You're gonna make me cry




Come on baby it's over let's face it
All that's happening here is a long goodbye

This is the long goodbye
Somebody tell me why
Two lovers in love can't make it
Just what kind of love keeps breaking a heart
No matter how hard I try
You're gonna make me cry
Come on baby it's over let's face it
All that's happening here is a long goodbye

The long goodbye
The long goodbye
This is the long goodbye

Overall Meaning

In "The Long Goodbye," Ronan Keating expresses the pain and heartbreak of a relationship that has reached its end. He knows that he should let go and move on, but it is difficult to do so. The song touches on the idea of free will and destiny. The opening line of the first verse, "I know they say if you love somebody you should set them free, but it sure is hard to do," illustrates this dilemma. He knows that he should set his lover free, but he is still in love with her and can't seem to move on.


The chorus emphasizes the idea that despite their love for each other, they are incapable of making the relationship work. Keating poses the question, "Just what kind of love keeps breaking a heart?" He is asking what kind of love is it that causes so much pain and heartbreak. In the bridge, he contemplates giving their love another chance but realizes that walking away would make more sense. He is torn between the idea of giving up and the desire to keep trying.


Overall, "The Long Goodbye" is a poignant and emotional ballad about the difficulty of letting go of a love that has become toxic. Through the lyrics, Keating tells the story of a relationship that has reached its end, but two lovers can't seem to quit each other.


Line by Line Meaning

I know they say if you love somebody you should set them free
Even though I know the saying to set someone you love free, it's a hard choice to make.


But it sure is hard to do
Despite the saying, it's undoubtedly difficult to actually set someone you love free.


I know they say if they don't come back again then it's meant to be
I've also heard that if they don't come back, then it wasn't meant to be.


Those words ain't pulling me through
However, this saying doesn't make it any easier for me to move on.


'Cause I'm still I love with you
I'm still in love with you, despite our current situation.


I spend each day here waiting for a miracle
I'm stuck waiting for something miraculous to happen, to fix our relationship.


But it's just you and me going through the mill climbing up a hill
In reality, it's just the two of us struggling to work things out, facing endless obstacles.


Two lovers in love can't make it
It's so sad that two people who love each other can't seem to make their relationship work.


Just what kind of love keeps breaking a heart
It's heartbreaking to see love fail, especially when it keeps hurting us over and over again.


No matter how hard I try, You're gonna make me cry
I've tried my hardest, but I still can't help the pain and tears.


Come on baby it's over let's face it
Maybe it's time to accept that our relationship is over and move on.


All that's happening here is a long goodbye
All that's left is a painful, drawn-out goodbye as we try to say our final farewells.


Sometimes I ask my heart did we really give our love a chance
At times, I find myself questioning if we ever truly gave our love a fair shot.


I know without a doubt, That we turned it inside out
I know for sure that we've tried to make it work, but our love feels twisted and distorted.


And if we walked away it would make more sense
In some ways, it seems logical to walk away and end things between us.


But it tears me up inside, Just to think we still could try
However, the thought of not trying to save what's left of our relationship is too painful to bear.


How long must we keep running on this carousel
We seem to be stuck in a never-ending cycle of repeating our problems and mistakes.


Going round and round and never getting anywhere on a wing and prayer
We keep trying to fix things, but our efforts seem futile, almost like a hopeless 'wing and a prayer.'


The long goodbye
It feels like we've been saying goodbye forever.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Paul Joseph Gerald Mary Brady, Ronan Keating

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@SuperZenaida1

beaytiful song
sitting around
waiting for something that will never come along
waiting for a miracle
just as time past by
it is time to letting go on
dont look back
or you will stay sucked in time
in pain for always



@MaRie-sw2in

I know they say if you love somebody you should set them free
But it sure is hard to do
It sure is hard to do
I know they say if they don't come back again then it's meant to be
Those words ain't pulling me through
'Cause I'm still I love with you
I spend each day here waiting for a miracle
But it's just you and me going through the mill climbing up a hill

This is the long goodbye
Somebody tell me why
Two lovers in love can't make it
Just what kind of love keeps breaking a heart
No matter how hard I try
You're gonna make me cry
Come on baby it's over let's face it
All that's happening here is a long goodbye

Sometimes I ask my heart did we really give our love a chance
I know without a doubt
That we turned it inside out
And if we walked away it would make more sense
But it tears me up inside
Just to think we still could try
How long must we keep running on this carousel
Going round and round and never getting anywhere on a wing and prayer

This is the long goodbye
Somebody tell me why
Two lovers in love can't make it
Just what kind of love keeps breaking a heart
No matter how hard I try
You're gonna make me cry
Come on baby it's over let's face it
All that's happening here is a long goodbye

This is the long goodbye
Somebody tell me why
Two lovers in love can't make it
Just what kind of love keeps breaking a heart
No matter how hard I try
You're gonna make me cry
Come on baby it's over let's face it
All that's happening here is a long goodbye

The long goodbye
The long goodbye
This is the long goodbye



All comments from YouTube:

@msbee-xj8ni

I've been in love with Ronan Keating for 27 years. Everytime I see him my heart still melts. 😭

@inspiration476

Y don't u tell him,but he is married so figure it out.pray to The Lord Jesus for a husband.Ronan is handsome but we need our own husbands .God bless

@anawinnie1

This is probably one of the most underrated of his songs. Absolutely perfect!

@khekihoshikhu3948

U still there??

@dapacathomeca8232

It's 2023 and I'm enjoying all Ronan Keating songs. He has a great voice.

@mtblover

O my word this song had me in tears years ago. I did set her free and she came back. 8 years married with the most beautifull daughter.

@TheTibor88

+Andre Jansen Van Vuuren I'm so happy to hear that.. I wish you happiness to your family.. 
I hope she will come back to, very soon.
It's so hard to let her go right now.. because I love her to much.

@mtblover

It is tough, I know. Not easy to trust nature and go on with life @TheTibor88

@rachelbarrie8540

that is so cute!!!!!!!!! im crying

@radityobagus1302

Same case here, brother.... Let her go for almost a year, we got back again together...
Now we are married for a year (and still running for a long time, I believe we can), and a cute 4 months old daughter....

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