After You've Gone
The Benny Goodman Quartet Lyrics


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Now won't you listen honey, while I say,
How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Don't say that we must part,
Don't break your baby's heart

You know I've loved you for these many years,
Loved you night and day,
Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
Listen while I say

After you've gone and left me cryin'
After you've gone there's no denyin'
You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had

There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
Someday, when you grow lonely
Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
After you've gone, after you've gone away

After you've gone and left me cryin'
After you've gone there's no denyin'
You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
You're gonna feel bad
And you'll miss, and you'll miss,
And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had

There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
But baby, think what you're doin'
I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so




It's gonna drive you to ruin
After you've gone, after you've gone away.

Overall Meaning

The Benny Goodman Sextet's song After You is a somber ballad that talks about a lover pleading with their partner not to leave them. The lyrics paint a picture of heartbreak and the painful aftermath of a break-up. The song starts with the plea to the partner to stay and not break their heart. The lover then reminds their partner of how they have loved them for all these years and that they will experience a profound sense of loss and loneliness after they leave. The lyrics are laced with sorrow as the lover tries to make their partner understand the depth of their love.


As the song progresses, the lover warns their partner of the consequences of their decision to leave. They remind their partner that after they leave, they will be filled with sadness and regret. The lover prophesizes that their partner will want them back when they grow lonely, just like they did. The song ends with a warning to the partner that their decision to leave would haunt and taunt them to ruin.


The song's message is clear; sometimes, we don't appreciate what we have until we lose it. The lyrics highlight how the partner will experience the pain they have inflicted on their lover once they leave. The song is a classic example of a heart-wrenching ballad that speaks to the human experience of love, loss, and heartbreak.


Line by Line Meaning

Now won't you listen honey, while I say,
I want you to hear me out, my dear


How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Why did you say you're leaving me? I can't understand


Don't say that we must part,
Please don't say that we have to end this way


Don't break your baby's heart
Don't cause me so much pain and sorrow


You know I've loved you for these many years,
I've been in love with you for a long time now


Loved you night and day,
My love for you has been constant and unwavering


Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
I'm crying right now, my dear, can't you see?


Listen while I say
Please pay attention to what I'm saying


After you've gone and left me cryin'
Once you leave me and I'm left crying


After you've gone there's no denyin'
It's the undeniable truth that once you're gone


You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
You'll feel down, you'll feel unhappy


You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
You'll realize that I was the best friend you've ever had


There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There will be a time, mark my words


There'll come a time when you'll regret it
You'll regret leaving me, someday


Someday, when you grow lonely
When you're alone and feel lonely


Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
You'll feel the pain I feel now and want me back


But baby, think what you're doin'
Please consider carefully what you're doing


I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so
I'm going to make you feel guilty and sorry


It's gonna drive you to ruin
It will eventually cause your downfall


After you've gone, after you've gone away.
Once you have left me for good




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Henry Creamer, Turner Layton, Ray Sherman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@donnyrichard4644

What can you say? This is the very best by the very best. Absolutely incredible performance.

@carlrichards49

Right on. It's classic, unsurpassable. Period.

@icarus67

Yo tengo este disco, en el clarinete esta Benny Goodman, piano Teddy Wilson y en la bateria Morey Feld, no se de que año sea, pero es de Columbia Co 34266, saludos

@jakestilson1947

Goodman making musical magic, as usual.

@Roggiedodgie

I used to crack up about how my Dad would say this was the thing when he was young. But now that I'm listening to it for the FIRST time, I have to say, it's pretty awesome. And that's coming from a 70's and 80's hard rock fan. ha ha ha wow

@toonman361

Riiiiight... me too. I just discovered 1920s-30s jazz at 60. I grew up listening to the big band, swing stuff. Now I'm listening to even earlier stuff. Just awesome.

@roughcutguitars

I long ago realized when it swings, it swings be it Benny or Thin Lizzy.

@joehamilton4656

It was Benny Goodman, who popularised the clarinet.

@pycroft

Teddy Wilson is so under-rated

@ccrider8277

Not in my mind though! The guy rips!!

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