In 1991, the track was remixed by Julian Mendelsohn and released as "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye '91" to promote the compilation album Memorabilia – The Singles, making no. 38 on the UK Singles Chart. Soft Cell vocalist Marc Almond re-recorded his vocals for the new version. It was ranked number 65 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 Best Songs of 1982 and ranked 12 on Classic Pop magazine's list of the 40 best synth-pop songs.
Video
A promo video was made that features the British actress Eileen Daly.
Cover versions
The song has been reissued several times between 1982 and the present, refer to link below. It has also been covered by other artists.
The lyrics "Take your hands off me / I don't belong to you" (“Tire suas mãos de mim, eu não pertenço a você”) were used by the Brazilian band Legião Urbana in the song "Será" on their 1985 debut album, which became a huge 80s hit (and now classic) in Brazil.
The song was covered by English artist David Gray and released on his successful 1998 album White Ladder. It was the album's fifth proper and final single and reached #26 on the UK Singles Chart.Gray's version, like his live performances, features additional lines at the end from the Van Morrison songs "Madame George" and "Into the Mystic". These additions contribute to a run time of 8:58, which is just under four minutes longer than the original; as such, the single featured a shorter radio edit. In addition, Gray's version omits the comma out of the title.
Marc Almond sang the song with Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra on the 2001 album Small World, Big Band.
Japanese duo Salon Music and American duo Sparks covered the song for Salon Music's 1988 album O Boy.
Nouvelle Vague covered the song on their 2009 album 3.
Track Info - First Releases
Release 1, Album: Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
Released:27 November 1981
Recorded: 1980-1981
Studio: Camden Cell (London) / Advision (London)
Genre: Synth-pop / new wave
Length: 5:24
Label: Some Bizzare
Songwriter: Marc Almond, David Ball
Producer: Mike Thorne
Release 2, Single Album: Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
B-Side: "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" (Instrumental)
Released:January 1982
Recorded: 1981
Genre: Synth-pop / new wave
Length: 5:16
Label: Some Bizzare - BZS 7
Songwriter: Marc Almond, David Ball
Producer:Mike Thorne
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Say_Hello,_Wave_Goodbye
Say Hello Wave Goodbye
Soft Cell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was a kind of so-so love
And I'm gonna make sure it never happens again
You and I, it had to be the standing joke of the year
You were a sleep-around, a lost and found and not for me, I feel
I tried to make it work, you in a cocktail skirt
And me in a suit but it just wasn't me
And now your life's a mess, so insecure you see
I put up with all the scenes
And this is one scene that's goin' to be played my way
Take your hands off me, hey
I don't belong to you, you see
And take a look in my face, for the last time,
I never knew you, you never knew me,
Say hello goodbye,
Say hello and wave goodbye
Under the deep red light
I can see the make-up slidin' down
Hey little girl you will always make up
So take off that unbecoming frown
What about me, well, I'll find someone
That's not goin' cheap in the sales
A nice little housewife, who'll give me a steady life
And won't keep going off the rails
Take your hands off me
I don't belong to you, you see
Take a look in my face, for the last time
I never knew you, you never knew me
Say hello goodbye
Say hello and wave goodbye
We've been involved for quite a while now
And to keep you a secret, has been hell
We're strangers meeting for the first time, ok?
Just smile and say hello
Say hello then wave goodbye
Say hello then wave goodbye
Say hello then wave goodbye
Say hello then wave goodbye
Say hello, wave goodbye
Say hello then wave goodbye
Say hello, say goodbye
Goodbye
Say goodbye
Goodbye
The song "Say Hello Wave Goodbye" by Soft Cell is a poignant goodbye to a failed relationship, with the singer lamenting over the so-so love and bitterness that they felt with their previous partner. The song is set against the backdrop of the Pink Flamingo club, where the singer is standing in the door crying in the rain as they reflect on their relationship. The relationship was marked by a lack of connection and insecurity, with the singer trying unsuccessfully to make it work.
The lyrics are a mix of sadness and anger, as the singer tries to let go of the past and move on to find someone who will give them a steady life. The imagery of the "deep red light" and "sliding make-up" convey the sense of a fading relationship, and the singer's desire to find someone who will not "keep going off the rails." The repeated refrain of "say hello and wave goodbye" serves as a final goodbye to the past and a sign of moving on to a new future.
Line by Line Meaning
Standin' in the door of the Pink Flamingo cryin' in the rain
I am standing outside the Pink Flamingo in the rain, feeling sadness and sorrow.
It was a kind of so-so love
Our relationship was mediocre, not really good or bad.
And I'm gonna make sure it never happens again
I will make sure that I never enter into such a relationship again.
You and I, it had to be the standing joke of the year
Our relationship was considered a joke by everyone this year.
You were a sleep-around, a lost and found and not for me, I feel
You had many sexual partners and were lost and directionless, and I never felt like I belonged with you.
I tried to make it work, you in a cocktail skirt
I made an effort to make our relationship work, but you dressed provocatively and inappropriately for many occasions.
And me in a suit but it just wasn't me
I tried to dress up in a suit, but it wasn't my style or personality.
You're used to wearing less
You're used to wearing skimpier, more revealing clothing.
And now your life's a mess, so insecure you see
Your life is a mess, and you are very insecure.
I put up with all the scenes
I tolerated all the dramatic scenes in our relationship.
And this is one scene that's goin' to be played my way
This is one scene that will end the way I want it to.
Take your hands off me, hey
Stop touching me!
I don't belong to you, you see
I am not your property.
And take a look in my face, for the last time,
Look at my face for the last time.
I never knew you, you never knew me,
We never really knew each other.
Say hello goodbye,
Say hello and then goodbye.
Under the deep red light
Under the bright red light.
I can see the make-up slidin' down
I can see your makeup running down your face.
Hey little girl you will always make up
You will always wear makeup, even when it's running down your face.
So take off that unbecoming frown
Stop frowning and looking miserable.
What about me, well, I'll find someone
As for me, I will find someone else.
That's not goin' cheap in the sales
Someone who is not easily available or on sale.
A nice little housewife, who'll give me a steady life
A nice wife who will give me a stable life.
And won't keep going off the rails
And won't have erratic behavior.
We've been involved for quite a while now
We have been in a relationship for a long time.
And to keep you a secret, has been hell
Keeping our relationship a secret has been a difficult and stressful task.
We're strangers meeting for the first time, ok?
We are acting like strangers meeting for the first time and that is fine with me.
Just smile and say hello
Just smile and say hello.
Say hello then wave goodbye
Say hello and then wave goodbye.
Goodbye
Goodbye!
Say goodbye
Say goodbye.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID BALL, MARC ALMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind