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Sammy Davis Jr. and Laurindo Almeida Lyrics
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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 Sammy Davis Jr & Laurindo Almeida's song Every Time We Say Goodbye describe the pain and sadness that the artist feels every time they have to say goodbye to someone they love. The repeated "Every time we say goodbye, I die a little" phrase conveys the intense emotional agony that they experience. This is followed by a rhetorical question, "Why the gods above me, who must be in the know think so little of me that they allow you to go", which adds a feeling of frustration and confusion. The artist wonders why they constantly have to endure the pain of separation and why fate seems to be against them.
The next few lines show that the artist perceives the presence of their loved one as a source of joy and hope. When the person is near, there is a sudden surge of energy and enthusiasm, as if it is the beginning of spring. They can hear birds singing about the happiness of being together. But in the end, the song ends on a melancholic note: "There's no love song finer but how strange, the change from major to minor." This final sentence serves as a metaphor for the emotional transformation that takes place when every goodbye is said. The mood that was once happy and major suddenly switches to minor, which represents the sadness and longing that remain after separation.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time we say goodbye, I die a little
Each time we part ways, it feels like a small piece of me has died
Every time we say goodbye, I wonder why a little
Upon saying farewell, I am left with a slightly puzzling feeling
Why the gods above me, who must be in the know
I question why the superior powers possess knowledge and insight beyond me
think so little of me that they allow you go
I'm left to wonder why they would let you leave with such little regard for me
When your near there's such an air of Spring about it
In your presence, the atmosphere feels refreshed and lively like the season of Spring
I can hear a lark somewhere begin to sing about it
I am filled with such joy and bliss that I can almost hear a bird begin to sing in celebration
There's no love song finer but how strange
I can't imagine a more beautiful love song, yet it's peculiar
The change from major to minor
As we bid adieu, the shift from a major key to minor is symbolic of the sadness and despair I feel upon your departure
Every time we say goodbye
Repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizing the pain and sorrow felt each time we part
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rod Kilpatrick
Thanks for posting this. I hadn't heard it before. It reminds us of just how good a singer Davis was, even in the absence of lavish, Vegas-style musical accompaniment. And my hat's off to Almeida, too.