The Overtones are a British-Irish doo-wop group from London, formed in 2010… Read Full Bio ↴The Overtones are a British-Irish doo-wop group from London, formed in 2010. Initially a five-piece, they were discovered by a Warner Brothers talent scout while working as decorators in a shop near Oxford Street, singing during their tea break.

Their 2010 debut album, Good Ol' Fashioned Love entered the UK album chart at #40 upon its first release on November 1, with sales of 5,371 in its opening week. Following a reissue in 2011, the album peaked at #4 and as of 2018 has sold nearly half a million copies. The group has gone on to release six further albums, with five out of the seven peaking within the UK Top 10.

Line-Up Changes:
In 2016, lead singer Timmy Matley was diagnosed with stage three malignant melanoma and two years later died in a drug-related accident. The following April, Lockie Chapman, the group's bass singer, announced his intention to leave to persue other commitments and his last performance with the group was in May 2019. The next month, Welsh singer Jay James was announced as a new member of The Overtones.

Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight
The Overtones Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to go,
Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to go,
I hate to leave you, but I really must say,
Goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight.

Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to go,
Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to go,
I hate to leave you, but I really must say,

Goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight.

Well, it's three o'clock in the morning,
And baby, I just can't do right,
Well, I hate to leave you, baby,
I don't mean maybe, because I love you so.

Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do

Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to go,
(Do-do-do-do-do)
Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to go,
(Ba-do ba-do)
I hate to leave you, but I really must say,
Goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight.

Well your mother and your father,
They won't like it if we stay up too late
Well, I hate to leave you, baby,
I don't mean maybe, you know I hate to go.

Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do

Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to go,
(Do-do-do-do-do)
Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to go,
(Ba-do ba-do)

I hate to leave you, but I really must say,
Goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight" by the Overtones depict a scene where the singer must leave his lover at three in the morning. The refrain, "Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to go," is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the departure. The singer confesses that leaving is difficult since he loves his lover deeply. He also notes that societal pressures, such as the disapproval of the lover's parents, add to the difficulty of leaving.

The song's lyrics perfectly capture the feeling of bittersweet goodbyes, which is very relatable to many people. The repetition of the phrase "Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to go" creates a sense of sadness and finality, while the "do-do-do" refrain gives the song a classic, timeless feel. The song was released in 1954 by The Spaniels and has since been covered by numerous artists, maintaining its popularity over the years.

Overall, "Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight" is a nostalgic tribute to the sadness of leaving someone you care about in search of new beginnings, which makes it a song that still resonates with listeners today.

Line by Line Meaning

Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to go,
It's late and time for me to leave.

Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to go,
I'm repeating myself to emphasize that I have to leave.

I hate to leave you, but I really must say,
I'm reluctant to go, but I have to.

Goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight.
A final goodbye for the night.

Well, it's three o'clock in the morning,
It's very late at night.

And baby, I just can't do right,
I'm too tired to function properly.

Well, I hate to leave you, baby,
I don't want to leave you.

I don't mean maybe, because I love you so.
I really do love you and don't want to leave.

Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do
Instrumental break.

Well your mother and your father,
Your parents.

They won't like it if we stay up too late
They wouldn't approve if we stayed up any longer.