The recording features 12-year-old Michael Jackson singing a serious song about a love, with accompaniment from his brothers. Although such a record was unusual for a teenage group, "Never Can Say Goodbye" was a number-two hit on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and a number-one hit on the Billboard Black Singles chart in the United States. In the United Kingdom, it reached number thirty-three on the UK Singles Chart.
Never Can Say Goodbye
The Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No, no, no, no I
never can say goodbye
Even tho' the pain and heartache seem to follow me wherever I go
Tho' I tried and tried to hide my feelings then always seem to show
Then you try to say you're leaving me and I always have to say no
Tell me why is it so
But I never can say goodbye
never can say goodbye
Every time I think I've had enough and start heading for the door
There's very strange vibrations, piercing me right to the core
It says turn around you fool you know you love her more and more
Tell me why is it so?
Don't wanna let you go
I never can say goodbye girl
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
Ohh, ohh, baby
(don't wanna let you go, girl)
I never can say goodbye
No, no, no, no, no, no
Ohh, I never can say goodbye girl
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
Ohh, ohh, ohh
(don't wanna let you go, baby)
I never can say goodbye
No, no, no, no, no, no
Ohh
Never can say goodbye
No, no, no, no
I never can say goodbye
I keep thinkin' that our problems soon are all gonna work out
But there's that same unhappy feelin' there's that anguish, there's that doubt
It's that same old dizzy hang-up can't do with you or without
Tell me why is it so
Don't wanna let you go
I never can say goodbye girl
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
Ohh, ohh, baby
(Baby)
I never can say goodbye
No, no, no, no, no, no
Ohh, I never can say goodbye girl
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
Ohh, ohh, ohh
(Baby)
I never can say goodbye
No, no, no, no, no, no
Ohh
I never can say goodbye girl
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
Ohh, ohh, baby,
(Baby)
I never can say goodbye
No, no, no, no, no, no
Ohh
I never can say goodbye girl
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
Ohh, ohh, baby
The Jackson 5's "Never Can Say Goodbye" is a hit song that was released on their album "Maybe Tomorrow" in 1971. The song tells a story of someone who is struggling to accept the fact that their relationship is over. The lyrics suggest that the singer is in a state of denial and is trying to hold onto the relationship despite the pain and heartache that come with it. The chorus repeats the line "never can say goodbye," indicating that the singer is unable to let go of their feelings for the person they're addressing.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is aware of their own vulnerability, as they try and hide their feelings but are unable to do so. The song is popular, in part, because it touches upon a universal theme many can relate to - the difficulty in letting go of someone you care for. The song is a powerful representation of the feelings of love and loss, and shows that it is not always easy to move on.
Overall, "Never Can Say Goodbye" is a beautiful and timeless song that represents the pain and struggle of trying to let go of someone you love.
Line by Line Meaning
I never can say goodbye, no, no, no, no, now
The singer is confessing that he can't bear the thought of letting go of his loved one.
Even though the pain and heartache
Seem to follow me wherever I go
The singer has been suffering from emotional pain, and it seems to haunt him wherever he goes.
Though I try and try to hide my feelings
They always seem to show
The singer has been trying to hide his true emotions, but he finds it impossible to do so.
Then you try to say you're leaving me
And I always have to say no
Tell me why is it so
The singer's loved one has threatened to leave him before, but he always begs them to stay. He wonders why he can't let go.
Every time I think I've had enough
And start heading for the door
The singer sometimes feels like he's had enough and is ready to leave, but something always stops him.
There's a very strange vibration
Piercing me right through the core
It says, turn around, you fool
You know you love him more and more
The singer feels an intense pull towards his loved one, and he can't ignore it. He knows that he loves them more than anything else in the world.
Don't wanna let you go
I never can say goodbye girl
The singer pleads with his loved one not to leave him, and he confesses that he can never say goodbye.
I keep thinking that our problems
Soon are all gonna work out
The singer has hope that his relationship problems will be resolved soon.
But there's that same unhappy feeling
There's that anguish, there's that doubt
Despite his hope, the singer still feels unhappy and uncertain about the future of his relationship.
It's the same old dizzy hangup
Can't do with you or without
Tell me why is it so
The singer is stuck in a cycle of uncertainty and confusion. He can't imagine life without his loved one, but he also can't seem to make the relationship work.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Clifton Davis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrRockyVega
This was easily one of the hardest songs to listen to when he left us.
I remember it like it was yesterday.
I had heard the news on CNN and I just sat there quietly the rest of the day. I got into a car with some friends the next day who were also big time fans and we were just quiet as we listened to the radio as they were playing "Dont Stop Til You Get Enough".
One of them put in the History album and played "Stranger In Moscow". I cried like he was one of my own family members when the chorus came on and he asked "How Does It Feel?".
It was the one question I couldn't bare to answer because of how much love and respect had for him and what he did during his time here. Hearing this song, "Earth Song" and "I'll Be There" were always the hardest ones along with "Stranger In Moscow".
There will never be another like you, Michael. Thank you for sharing your gift with us so selflessly.
@fostermac7170
We had it good and didnt realize it.
It helped that ADULTS were writing the music. They arranged the vocals. They wrote the chord progressions. They learned how to write about sex or taboo subjects using techniques like double entendre that allowed the listener to take the message where he or she wanted it. None of that in your face bullshit. We didnt have songs named "panty dropper", even if it was a panty dropper. All of the singers today say things like "you gon' think I invented sex". Of course, the singer is usually a 5'2" kid looking so-called thug that ain't invented nothing.
This song, of course was written by Clifton Davis of "That's My Mama, and Amen". The Jacksons recorded it after he presented it to Motown on a spec.
All of us ought to write some songs and present them to well, who? Cash Money Records?; Bad Boy Records?, Ruthless this? Murder this?
Look this industry is f'd up, and we ought to be shamed of ourselves watching it happen and not coming up with solution to fix it.
Thanks. I've been wanting to say that for a long time.
@iamtheglow
My mom died yesterday and this song popped into my head. I’ll miss her forever. 💔
@SwedeProof
I'm terribly sorry that you lost your mom so recently 😔.
@iamtheglow
@@SwedeProof Thank you 🙏🏾
@tinydancer62
I'm very sorry for your loss. 🙏
@mikemurphy1472
God bless you 🙏🏽
@iamtheglow
@@mikemurphy1472 Thank you. You as well. 🙏🏾
@fredo4070
How did a little kid sing with that much heart?
Surreal. Michael Jackson is a true giant. Timeless
@detetiveluke
I fell always impressed too, it feels like his soul came and hug my soul everytime I hear him singing
@musizlovva1570
It's called being Gifted and Annoited.
@jonathanvijongarth
He was gifted.