Kiss and Say Goodbye
Rufus Wainwright Anna McGarrigle Martha Wainwright Lyrics


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Call me when you're coming to town
Just as soon as your plane puts down
Call me on the telephone
But only if you're traveling alone
Counting down the hours
Through the sunshine and the showers
Today's the day
You're finally going to come my way

Let's make a date to see a movie
Some foreign film from gay Paris
I know you like to think you've got taste
So I'll let you choose the time and place
Have some dinner for two
In some eastside rendezvous
Then we'll walk
Arm in arm around the block and talk

Tonight you're mine
Let's not waste time

I do believe the die is cast
Let's try and make the night-time last
And I don't know where it's coming from
But I want to kiss you till my mouth get numb
I want to make love to you
Till the day comes breaking through




And when the sun is high in the sky
We'll kiss and say goodbye

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Kiss and Say Goodbye" by Rufus Wainwright, Anna McGarrigle, and Martha Wainwright are about a long-distance relationship between two people who are eagerly anticipating finally being together. The song is very descriptive, using imagery to convey the excitement and anticipation of a budding romance. The singer is asking the person they are interested in to call them as soon as they arrive in town, expressing a desire to hear from them and be with them. They suggest a date to see a foreign film, have dinner for two, and walk around the block while talking. The singer expresses their desire to be intimate and spend time together until the sun comes up. The song ends on a poignant note, acknowledging that their time together is limited and they will have to say goodbye.


The lyrics in "Kiss and Say Goodbye" are full of metaphorical language, suggesting layers of meaning within the song. For example, the talk of counting down the hours and sunshine and showers could be interpreted as the ups and downs of a long-distance relationship. The mention of a foreign film from Paris suggests a desire for adventure and the unknown. The idea of making the night-time last suggests a desire to hold onto the feelings and excitement of a new relationship. The line "And I don't know where it's coming from, but I want to kiss you till my mouth gets numb" implies a sense of abandon and passion that might not have been felt before.


Overall, "Kiss and Say Goodbye" is a tender and emotional song about longing and connection. The lyrics convey the tension and anticipation of a nascent relationship, with a bittersweet acknowledgement of the limitations of time and distance.


Line by Line Meaning

Call me when you're coming to town
Let me know when you're going to be here


Just as soon as your plane puts down
The moment you land and get off the plane


Call me on the telephone
Use the phone to contact me


But only if you're traveling alone
Don't call me if you're not alone


Counting down the hours
Waiting impatiently for the time to pass


Through the sunshine and the showers
No matter the weather or conditions, I'll be waiting


Today's the day
Finally, the long-awaited day has arrived


You're finally going to come my way
You'll be coming to see me soon


Let's make a date to see a movie
Let's decide on a time to watch a movie together


Some foreign film from gay Paris
A foreign movie from Paris that could be considered entertaining or joyful


I know you like to think you've got taste
I understand that you think of yourself as having good taste


So I'll let you choose the time and place
You get to decide when and where we'll watch the movie


Have some dinner for two
We'll have a romantic dinner together


In some eastside rendezvous
We'll meet at a secret location in the eastern part of town


Then we'll walk
After dinner, we'll go for a walk


Arm in arm around the block and talk
We'll walk together holding hands and talk about anything and everything


Tonight you're mine
Tonight, you belong to me


Let's not waste time
Let's not squander this moment, and seize it to its fullest potential


I do believe the die is cast
I think our fate is now sealed


Let's try and make the night-time last
Let's make the night last as long as possible


And I don't know where it's coming from
I can't explain my feelings


But I want to kiss you till my mouth get numb
I want to kiss you so much that I'll lose all feeling in my mouth


I want to make love to you
I want to be intimate with you in every way possible


Till the day comes breaking through
Until the sun rises in the morning


And when the sun is high in the sky
When it's midday


We'll kiss and say goodbye
We'll share one last kiss before we part ways




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: KATE MCGARRIGLE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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