Originally coming to fame in the mid-1960s singing orchestral pop ballads as the frontman of The Walker Brothers, Walker went on to a solo career balancing a light entertainment/MOR ballad approach with increasing artistic innovations in arrangement and writing. Despite a series of acclaimed albums, a disastrous drop in sales forced him back into straight Middle of the road recordings with little of his own artistic input. This in turn eventually led to a Walker Brothers reunion in the mid-1970s (although the latter eventually moved, by mutual consent, into more avant-garde areas).
From the mid-1980s, Walker revived his solo career while drastically reinventing his artistic and compositional methods, via a series of acclaimed and vividly avant-garde albums. These combined his iconic voice with an unsettling avant-garde approach which owed more to modernist and post-modernist classical composition than to his pop singer past. This change in approach has been compared to "Andy Williams reinventing himself as Stockhausen".
Walker has been a continuing influence on other artists, in particular The Last Shadow Puppets, Marc Almond, Goldfrapp, Douglas Pearce of the band Death in June, Billy MacKenzie of The Associates, David Sylvian, Julian Cope, Antony Hegarty, Thom Yorke, Steven Wilson, David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Trey Spruance, Perry Blake, Radiohead, Noah Lennox, Mikael Åkerfeldt, and the Divine Comedy/Neil Hannon.
Walker continued to release solo material until his death, and was signed to 4AD Records. As a record producer or guest performer he worked with a number of artists including Pulp, Ute Lemper, Bat For Lashes and Sunn O))).
Just Say Goodbye
Scott Walker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
there's nothing more to say, when love like ours can die
Just say goodbye, forget the life we knew,
the memory of you, will only make me cry
Just say goodbye, to leave me on my own,
to face the world alone and never knowing why
Just say goodbye, and though I don't know how,
Just say goodbye, it's sad that you must go,
you loved me once I know, this much I can't deny
Oh my love, my own true love, oh where did we go wrong
Oh my love, my own true love, oh how can I go on?
Just say goodbye, it's sad that you must go,
you loved me once I know, this much i can't deny
Just say goodbye and please don't turn around
another love you've found now spread your wings and fly
Just say goodbye.... just say goodbye.... just say goodbye....
The lyrics of Scott Walker's song "Just Say Goodbye" express the heart-wrenching pain of a love that has ended, but one partner is struggling to let go. The song starts with a plea to the partner to end it - to say goodbye and let the singer walk away. The love they once shared has died, and there is nothing more to say. The heartache is too much to bear, and any memory of their time together can only bring more tears. The singer is asking for a final goodbye, so he can try to move forward and face the world alone.
In the chorus, the singer questions how their love went wrong and how they can continue without each other. The pain is too visceral, too overwhelming for the singer to bear at this point.
The song ends with a final plea for the partner to say goodbye and to fly away to another love. The singer can't help but feel sad and mournful for what once was.
"Just Say Goodbye" is a heartbreaking ballad about the end of a love that couldn't be sustained. Through the lyrics, Scott Walker captures the pain and anguish of lost love with raw emotion.
Line by Line Meaning
Just say goodbye, and let me walk away,
Please tell me you are done, so I can leave without lingering doubts and regrets.
there's nothing more to say, when love like ours can die
There is no point to keep talking when our love has faded away and lost its spark.
Just say goodbye, forget the life we knew,
Bid me farewell and move on, don't try to hold on to the past and what we used to have.
the memory of you, will only make me cry
The thought of you will pierce my heart and bring tears to my eyes if I keep dwelling on it.
Just say goodbye, to leave me on my own,
Say your goodbyes and leave me to face the harsh reality on my own, without you by my side.
to face the world alone and never knowing why
I'll have to confront the challenges of life alone, not understanding why our love couldn't survive.
Just say goodbye, and though I don't know how,
Even though I can't fathom how you could end our relationship, just let me go.
I couldn't hate you now, no matter how I tried
I can't bring myself to hate you, however much I attempt to push that feeling down.
Just say goodbye, it's sad that you must go,
It's a sorrowful farewell that you must bid, but it's necessary for you to depart.
you loved me once I know, this much I can't deny
Despite what has become of our love, I can't reject the fact that you once loved me.
Oh my love, my own true love, oh where did we go wrong
I ponder where we erred in this romance, my beloved, my soulmate.
Oh my love, my own true love, oh how can I go on?
How can I bear to continue living without you, my sweet, true love?
Just say goodbye and please don't turn around
Say your goodbyes, and don't look back, so I can come to terms with the finality of our relationship.
another love you've found now spread your wings and fly
It's evident you have found another love interest, so it's time for you to break free and soar.
Just say goodbye.... just say goodbye.... just say goodbye....
Please bid your adieus, signify the end of our romantic journey, and don't prolong my pain.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: P. CLARK, P. DELANOE, T. HATCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Walsh
A brilliant performance from The Walker Brothers. One of the greatest groups ever
backpages98
That last minute or so is so powerful, kinda crazy I continue to say that about so many of their songs but it's true, There's not a lot of ways you can emit emotion better than with an orchestra and horns on top of the Clark lyrics which are just perfect for Scott and John to sing. Great song!
beachgirl1947
The very best male group ever. Scott had THE most beautiful voice.
beachgirl1947
I never knew Pet Clark wrote this ! Gorgeous arrangement..
Pipkin Hopkins
Just love how this song grows. All mild then the drums kick in and it unfolds into a great big gothic, spector like anthem !! Only the Walkers could do this !
Anthony Mead
This is brilliant. Dark and moody, just right for the Walker Brothers. They excelled in this sort of thing. Didn't realise Petula Clarke was so talented a songwriter. Excellent.
Christina Huie
Petula Clark translated the French lyrics.
Anthony Mead
This is perfect for Scott to sing. I think this is the best thing they ever did as a group. Fascinating.
Julie Robinson
I can't say goodbye, in my head you are still here while I can still hear your wonderful voice. So sad.
Raymond Morgan
Wonderful wonderful orchestration so melodic + dramatic. One of their best if little known.