Written by Sarah Cracknell, Lawrence Oakley & Mark Waterfield
Produced b… Read Full Bio ↴Written by Sarah Cracknell, Lawrence Oakley & Mark Waterfield
Produced by Saint Etienne & Ian Catt
Additional production by Xenomania & Tim Powell

Released June 2005 on Tales from Turnpike House

Notes Original programming and e-bow by Cloaked. The same writing team also produced Fascination. A demo version of this song appeared on the 4th disc - entitled Eric Random - of Boxette in which Sarah Cracknell writes...

"Sometimes I write songs with friends outside the band never quite knowing what will become of them. Solo album? Etienne album? Elevator music? This song was written with Mark Waterfield & Lawrence Oakley (who makes the best coffee south of the river) in Lawrence's flat opposite Tooting Bec Lido. I always really liked the bassline, it seemed to get lost on Tales from Turnpike House. The theme of the song is basically 'why did you dump me, you fool?'" Sarah Cracknell, 2007.

A Good Thing
Saint Etienne Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Ba ba ba)
(Ba ba ba)
(Ba ba ba)

Take a message, let me know
Put on her shoes before she goes
Hazel eyes and auburn hair
How could she tell it's all for nothing?

Far away from what you want
Another night to spend alone
And now you really know
It's gone, it's gone, it's gone

You know it was a good thing
The best thing
Last thing you should have left behind
Out of nowhere
Out there
Looking all the way back
It's a good thing
The best thing
Last thing you should have left behind
Out of nowhere
Out there
It's gone, it's gone, it's gone, it's gone, it's gone

A small cafe across the street
I heard you meet there every week
Got your favorite necklace on
How could you tell it's all for nothing?

Pack your bags and move along
Before your feelings get too strong
'Cos I can tell you now
It's gone, it's gone, it's gone

[chorus]

[spoken]
He looked away, pretending not to see her
She tried to say something, but nothing came out right
He's lost the best thing
One day it'll hit him
One day...

It's gone, it's gone, it's gone, it's gone...

[chorus to fade]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Saint Etienne's song A Good Thing tell the tale of a relationship that has come to an end. The song opens with a series of ba ba bas before launching into the heart of the story. The singer implores someone to "take a message" and let them know that they should put on their shoes before they go, putting them in the frame of mind that they need to leave. The person in question is described as having "hazel eyes and auburn hair", and the singer wonders how they can tell that what they're leaving behind is "all for nothing".

The song continues, weaving a tale about one person being far away from what they want while the other is spending "another night alone". The chorus repeatedly emphasizes that "it was a good thing", the "best thing", but that it was "the last thing you should have left behind". There is a sense of regret and sorrow as the singer looks back, wondering how things could have gone differently. The song culminates in a spoken verse where it is revealed that the person who left has lost something wonderful, but that they don't yet realize it.

The lyrics to A Good Thing beautifully convey the sense of loss and confusion that comes with the end of a relationship. The song is both poignant and bittersweet, capturing the feeling of looking back while also trying to move forward. The melody and lyrics work together to create a memorable track that will resonate with listeners who have experienced the same emotions.

Line by Line Meaning

(Ba ba ba)
Instrumental opening

Take a message, let me know
Tell me what's going on, give me an update

Put on her shoes before she goes
Get ready for the inevitable goodbye

Hazel eyes and auburn hair
Description of someone who will be missed

How could she tell it's all for nothing?
Why did she have to leave despite the efforts?

Far away from what you want
Not being where you want to be in life

Another night to spend alone
Loneliness after the departure

And now you really know
Acceptance of the situation

It's gone, it's gone, it's gone
Things have changed and cannot be reversed

You know it was a good thing
Acknowledgement of what was lost

The best thing
Realizing that it was the most valuable thing

Last thing you should have left behind
Regret for not holding onto it

Out of nowhere
Unexpectedly

Out there
Somewhere else, out of reach

Looking all the way back
Reflecting on the past

It's a good thing
Despite the loss, it was worth it

The best thing
Underscoring the importance of what was lost

Last thing you should have left behind
Expressing regret for letting it go

Out of nowhere
Unexpectedly

Out there
Somewhere unattainable

It's gone, it's gone, it's gone, it's gone, it's gone
Reiterating that it's truly lost

A small cafe across the street
The location where memories were made

I heard you meet there every week
Recounting how things used to be

Got your favorite necklace on
Remembrance of a loved one who left

How could you tell it's all for nothing?
Why did everything have to end the way it did?

Pack your bags and move along
Advice to move on despite the pain

Before your feelings get too strong
Get out before it's too late, before the feelings deepen further

'Cos I can tell you now
Advice based on personal experience

It's gone, it's gone, it's gone
Repeating the reality of the situation

He looked away, pretending not to see her
Ignoring the significance of the departing loved one

She tried to say something, but nothing came out right
Failing to express how much the loved one means

He's lost the best thing
Regret of letting go of something so cherished

One day it'll hit him
The realization of what was lost will eventually strike

One day...
Implying that the pain will continue to lingers

It's gone, it's gone, it's gone, it's gone...
Final repetition of how things have changed and can never go back

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SARAH CRACKNELL, BOB STANLEY, PETE WIGGS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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