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.
Good Thing
Saint Etienne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(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]
The lyrics of Saint Etienne's "Good Thing" explore feelings of regret and loss, particularly in the context of a failed romantic relationship. The song's protagonist is reflecting on a former lover who has moved on and left them behind, struggling to come to terms with the fact that the person they once cared so deeply about is now gone for good. The opening lines of the song ("Take a message, let me know/Put on her shoes before she goes") suggest that the singer is desperately trying to hold onto the relationship, perhaps hoping that there's still a chance to salvage things. However, they quickly realize that it's too late, and that the other person has already moved on ("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").
The song's chorus ("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") seems to be both an acknowledgement of what the singer has lost and a plea to the former lover not to overlook the value of what they once had. The repeated use of the phrase "it's gone" emphasizes the finality of the breakup, while the wistful imagery of "looking all the way back" suggests that the singer is having trouble moving on and letting go of what could have been.
Overall, "Good Thing" is a poignant meditation on the aftermath of a failed relationship, exploring the complicated mix of emotions that can arise when someone realizes they've lost someone they once loved. The song's nostalgic, dreamy soundscapes emphasize the sense of melancholy and regret that permeates the lyrics, making for a moving and affecting listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a message, let me know
Please give me a message to convey
Put on her shoes before she goes
Walk a mile in her shoes before you judge her decision to leave
Hazel eyes and auburn hair
Describing physical attributes of the person in question
How could she tell it's all for nothing?
Questioning the point of the relationship and whether it was worth pursuing
Far away from what you want
Feeling like the person is distant from what they really desire
Another night to spend alone
Another lonely night without the person they desire
And now you really know
Confirming that they have come to a realization
It's gone, it's gone, it's gone
Stating that the relationship is over
You know it was a good thing
Acknowledging that the relationship was positive
The best thing
Highlighting that the relationship was the best experience
Last thing you should have left behind
Regretting that they let go of something important
Out of nowhere
Unexpectedly losing something valuable
Out there
Referring to the past and the memories of the relationship
Looking all the way back
Reflecting on the past and the relationship that has ended
It's gone, it's gone, it's gone, it's gone, it's gone
Emphasizing the finality of the relationship ending
A small cafe across the street
Describing a location where the person in question frequents
I heard you meet there every week
Implying that the person keeps returning to the same place, possibly to reminisce
Got your favorite necklace on
Describing an object that holds sentimental value
How could you tell it's all for nothing?
Questioning whether returning to the same place and holding on to an object is meaningful
Pack your bags and move along
Advising to move on and let go of the past
Before your feelings get too strong
Before the person becomes too attached to someone or something they cannot have
'Cos I can tell you now
Because the artist has an insight into the situation
[spoken] He looked away, pretending not to see her
Narrating a scene of the past where one person ignores the other
She tried to say something, but nothing came out right
Describing the difficulty of expressing what one really feels
He's lost the best thing
Highlighting the regret that comes with losing something valuable
One day it'll hit him
Implying that the person will eventually realize what they have lost
It's gone, it's gone, it's gone, it's gone...
Continuing to emphasize the finality of the relationship ending
Chorus
Repeating the lines from the first chorus
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fran Torres
Bellisima cancion, me transporta a lo mas bello de mi juventud
Didrick Namtvedt
Haven't heard this song in years but I love it, very dancy and catchy! :)
betoski
Cool song. Looked it up after seeing the movie Volver :D
Marcelo Viveros V.
So did I. Have just watched it!
Tim Coe
SUCH a fucking good band. Love their sound.
Vanessa Villamor
OMG Grey's Anatomy feels😙
Ximena Tamez
Vengo de ver Volver en Netflix 💓
Exequiel Romero
Jajaja también
Champagne Supernova
Grey's Anatomy brought me here!
Maria Teresa Cruz
Volver ✋🏻