Laine continued to perform the song in concert during his years in Wings, and it is included in the group's Wings over America live album. He also sang the song at the Birmingham Heart Beat Charity Concert 1986 raising money for the local children's hospital.
The Moody Blues had little success with singles after "Go Now" in the mid-'sixties, which led to Denny Laine's departure from the band, later being replaced by Justin Hayward. Bassist Clint Warwick had also departed the band at this time, and he was immediately replaced by John Lodge. With the new lineup, the Moody Blues continued to perform "Go Now" for a short time, up until they began writing their own material. Hayward sang the song during his first year with the band, and Ray Thomas attempted to sing it a couple of times himself.[6]
The next chart successes for The Moody Blues would be with "Nights in White Satin" and "Tuesday Afternoon" in 1968.
In contrast to other songs from their debut album "The Magnificent Moodies", "Go Now" contained many early elements of what later would become progressive rock, such as the lush instrumentation, the innovative variations of the Fifties Progression, as well as strong baroque elements that would later become hallmarks of prog rock.
At the time the single was released it was being promoted on TV with one of the first purpose-made promotional films in the pop era (produced and directed by their co-manager Alex Wharton), very much before The Beatles did with the promotional films of their singles "Rain" and "Paperback Writer", both released on 1966.
On June 21, 22, and 23, 1976, at The Forum in Inglewood,CA., Denny Laine performed "Go Now" with the band Wings accompanying himself on piano, along with Paul McCartney on bass and vocals, Linda McCartney on vocals, Jimmy McCullough on lead guitar and Joe English on drums. This version of "Go Now" appears on the Wings Over America live album.
In January 1997, "Go Now" was released on The Very Best of the Moody Blues;[7] its release on this album was the first time it had been released on a Moody Blues compilation album. "Go Now" was also released on the subsequent Moody Blues' two-disc compilation album Anthology.[8]
The version by The Moody Blues was famously used on the satirical British television show Spitting Image in a scene concerning then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.[1]
"Go Now" was performed by Denny Laine with The Fab Faux on December 11, 2010 at Terminal 5 in New York City and February 26, 2011 at the State Theatre in Easton, PA.
Denny Laine: guitar, Lead vocal
Clint Warwick: bass guitar, backing vocal
Mike Pinder: piano, backing vocal
Ray Thomas: tambourine, backing vocal,
Graeme Edge: drums, percussion, backing vocal
Go Now
The Moody Blues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since you gotta go, oh you'd better
Go now, go now, go now (go now, ooh)
Before you see me cry?
I don't want you to tell me just what you intend to do now
'Cause how many times do I have to tell you darlin', darlin'
I'm still in love with you now
We've already said "so long"
I don't want to see you go, oh you'd better
Go now, go now, go now (go now, ooh)
Don't you even try?
Tellin' me that you really don't want it to end this way
'Cause darlin', darlin', can't you see I want you to stay, yeah
Since you gotta go, oh you'd better
Go now, go now, go now (go now, ooh)
Before you see me cry
I don't want you to tell me just what you intend to do now
'Cause how many times do I have to tell you darlin', darlin'
I'm still in love, still in love with you now
Ooh ooh ooh
I don't want to see you go but darlin', you better go now
The Moody Blues's song Go Now is a heartfelt plea to a lover who is about to leave. The singer acknowledges that they have already said goodbye and said so long, but now they are begging the person to go now. The repetition of the phrase "go now" emphasizes the urgency of the situation - the singer can't bear to see the person they love leave, but they also can't bear to watch them stay and continue to hurt them. The singer acknowledges the pain and vulnerability they feel by asking the person to leave before they see them cry.
However, the love is still there between the two of them, as the singer declares multiple times that they're still in love with the person. This creates a sense of conflict within the singer - they want the person to leave, but they also want them to stay. They don't want to hear what the person intends to do, because at this point, it doesn't matter. All that matters is that the person leaves before the singer becomes too emotional.
The song Go Now is a bittersweet reminder of the pain of love and heartbreak. It captures the moment when a lover is forced to say goodbye to someone they still love. Yet at the same time, it's a powerful and passionate song that showcases the enduring power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
We've already said "goodbye"
We've parted ways before and it's time for you to leave again
Since you gotta go, oh you'd better
You have to leave and it's important that you do so immediately
Go now, go now, go now (go now, ooh)
Leave right away, without delay
Before you see me cry?
I don't want you to witness my sadness upon your departure
I don't want you to tell me just what you intend to do now
I don't want to hear your plans for the immediate future
'Cause how many times do I have to tell you darlin', darlin'
I've told you many times before
I'm still in love with you now
I confess my continued love for you in the present moment
Whoa oh oh oh
An emotional outburst expressing my feelings
We've already said "so long"
We've bid farewell before
I don't want to see you go, oh you'd better
I don't want you to leave, but you must go
Don't you even try?
I won't entertain any attempt from you to change the situation
Tellin' me that you really don't want it to end this way
Don't try to convince me that you don't want to leave
'Cause darlin', darlin', can't you see I want you to stay, yeah
I want you to stay, but I know you have to go
Since you gotta go, oh you'd better
It's necessary that you leave
Before you see me cry
I don't want to display my emotions in front of you
I'm still in love, still in love with you now
My love for you hasn't diminished
Ooh ooh ooh
Expressing my emotion
I don't want to see you go but darlin', you better go now
I don't want you to leave, but I understand you have to and I want you to do it now
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Larry Banks, Milton Bennett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@talbino7821
RIP to the amazing Denny Laine 🙏 Was 12 when i first heard this on The Very Best of the Moody Blues cassette tape and I became a lifelong Moodies fan ever since. Phenomenal talent both here and in Wings !
@billmulthauf2934
Played this for my wife when doctors said no chance. That was 2012 SHE is listening to it tonight IN 2022.
@carolynwoodman1734
God bless you ❤
@computerbob5407
RIP Denny. We're losing so much amazing talent.
@lokisan100
So much just this year!
@agropop2006
Descansa en paz, Denny Laine! gracias por la música. #RIP #QEPD
@Petchary
Haven't heard this song for years and had forgotten what a brilliant song this is - so soulful.
@kensanity178
Anyone who has ever been in love and lost it will always feel something when they hear this song. To say it touches you is understatement. It REALLY touches you.
@danielolortegui5753
That piano at 1:43 grabs me by the jugular and doesn't let go
@kensanity178
@Daniel Olortegui the words haunt me. What will you be, in the end. Cant say what the truth is. No matter what's in the letter. Wasnt meaning to send anyway.