Clooney's first recordings, in May 1946, were for Columbia Records. She sang with Tony Pastor's big band. Clooney continued working with the Pastor band until 1949, making her last recording with the band in May of that year and her first as a solo artist a month later, still for Columbia.
She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit Come On-a My House written by William Saroyan and his cousin Ross Bagdasarian (better known as David Seville, the father figure of Alvin and the Chipmunks), which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me" (a cover version of the Italian song Ba-Ba-Baciami Piccina by Alberto Rabagliati), "Mambo Italiano", "Tenderly", "Half as Much", "Hey There" and "This Ole House", although she had success as a jazz vocalist. Clooney's career languished in the 1960s, partly due to problems related to depression and drug addiction, but revived in 1977, when her White Christmas co-star Bing Crosby asked her to appear with him at a show marking his 50th anniversary in show business. She continued recording until her death in 2002. She was the aunt of Academy Award winning actor George Clooney; mother-in-law of singer Debby Boone; and sister to former television personality Nick Clooney. She was the ex-wife of Jose Ferrer; mother of actor Miguel Ferrer
Clooney was diagnosed with lung cancer at the end of 2001. Around this time, she gave her last concert, in Hawaii, backed by the Honolulu Symphony Pops; her last song was "God Bless America".
Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
Rosemary Clooney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every time we say goodbye, I wonder why a little
Why the gods above me, who must be in the know
think so little of me that they allow you go
When your near there's such an air of Spring about it
I can hear a lark somewhere begin to sing about it
There's no love song finer but how strange
Every time we say goodbye
The lyrics of Rosemary Clooney's song "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" is a poignant tale of heartbreak and loss. It depicts the strong emotions felt when two people part ways, and how it affects someone's innermost self. The song starts with the line "Every time we say goodbye, I die a little," which shows how difficult it is for the singer to accept the departure of someone who means the world to them. Each goodbye is a small death for the person, chipping away at their soul, and making it increasingly difficult for them to bear the pain.
The singer then wonders why the gods above her, who must know all, would allow her love to leave her alone. The words express a desperate feeling of helplessness and disappointment. The lack of control over the situation leaves her questioning her worth and wondering what she did wrong. The following lines paint a beautiful picture of the love that once was, and the way the presence of the other person can bring an air of Spring to the singer's life. It is apparent that the singer draws joy and happiness from their love's presence.
However, the song's finale, "There's no love song finer but how strange the change from major to minor... Every time we say goodbye," delivers the tragic melancholy that the song conveys. The change from a major key to a minor key within the song's composition illustrates the emotional transition from happiness to sadness caused by the farewell. It is an excellent representation of the way people's life changes when their loved ones leave them, leaving them with heartache and hurt.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time we say goodbye, I die a little
Each farewell between us brings me immense inner pain, leading to a small part of me being lost with every good-bye we exchange.
Every time we say goodbye, I wonder why a little
Whenever we are parting, my mind questions the point of it all, leaving me unsure if this goodbye is really necessary.
Why the gods above me, who must be in the know
As an individual of religious faith, I am curious about the divine beings who control my fate and wonder if they understand the situation.
think so little of me that they allow you go
It appears that the divine forces are not entirely on my side since they have permitted your departure, which hurts me deeply.
When your near there's such an air of Spring about it
In your presence or proximity, I feel a sense of freshness and rebirth reminiscent of the season of Spring.
I can hear a lark somewhere begin to sing about it
The feeling of new beginnings is so strong that I can sense a lark beginning to express its happiness through song.
There's no love song finer but how strange
Although our love is beautiful and exceptional, it is unusual or peculiar that we have to experience such pain every time we say Goodbye.
The change from major to minor
The departure alters how our interactions feel, transforming them from cheerful and bright to sorrowful and sad songs of woe and loss.
Every time we say goodbye
Each time we depart, regardless of the circumstances or reasons, it is always a deeply emotional and difficult experience that takes a significant emotional and mental toll on me.
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JULE STYNE, SAMMY CAHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind