The trouble with hello is goodbye
Shirley Bassey Lyrics


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We wandered through the summertime
We drifted into fall
We never thought of winter at all
How foolishly we tossed away the buttercups
The time
Who'd have thought we'd have no more
Songs to sing? Hills to climb?
We summered in each other's arms
And slumbered in the glow
We never heard the whisper of snow
But summer's not forevermore
No matter how we you tried
The trouble with 'Hello' is 'Goodbye'

We never heard the whisper of snow
But summer's not forevermore




No matter how you tried
The trouble with 'Hello' is 'Goodbye'

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Shirley Bassey's song "The trouble with hello is goodbye" tell the story of a fleeting and transient love affair. The song describes a couple who navigate through the joyful and carefree days of summer but fail to anticipate the changes that autumn and winter bring. The opening lines, "We wandered through the summertime, We drifted into fall," convey a sense of aimlessness and a lack of foresight. The couple is so consumed by the euphoria of their romance that they neglect to consider the possibility of their relationship enduring beyond the summer months.


The lyrics emphasize the fleeting nature of their love by using imagery such as tossing away buttercups and no longer having songs to sing and hills to climb. These metaphors suggest that the couple is no longer experiencing the same joy and vibrancy that they once had. The line, "We summered in each other's arms and slumbered in the glow," depicts the intimacy and contentment they found in each other's company. However, the song takes a somber turn as it proclaims that even though they may have had a beautiful and passionate summer, it is not sustainable. The chorus emphasizes the inherent conflict between greeting someone with a warm hello, and inevitably having to bid them farewell with goodbye.


Overall, the lyrics of "The trouble with hello is goodbye" reflect on the transient nature of love and the bittersweet realization that all good things must come to an end. It highlights the melancholic truth that even the most intense and beautiful experiences are bound to fade away, leaving only memories.


Line by Line Meaning

We wandered through the summertime
We aimlessly explored and journeyed through the pleasant days of summer


We drifted into fall
We transitioned casually and without intention into the season of autumn


We never thought of winter at all
We failed to consider the approaching cold and desolate season of winter


How foolishly we tossed away the buttercups
We carelessly discarded the innocent and joyful moments of our past


The time
The passage of time


Who'd have thought we'd have no more songs to sing? Hills to climb?
Who could have imagined that we would no longer have joyful experiences to share? That our lives would lack new challenges and aspirations?


We summered in each other's arms
We experienced the warmth and happiness of summer together


And slumbered in the glow
And peacefully rested in the radiance of our love


We never heard the whisper of snow
We were oblivious to the approaching cold and hardships


But summer's not forevermore
However, the joyful and carefree season of summer cannot last indefinitely


No matter how we you tried
Regardless of our efforts


The trouble with 'Hello' is 'Goodbye'
The challenge we face with greeting and forming attachments to others is the inevitable farewell




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Alan Bergman, Dave Grusin, Marilyn Bergman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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