Don't Say Goodnight and Mean Goodbye
The Shirelles were an influential American girl group in the early 1960s, a… Read Full Bio ↴The Shirelles were an influential American girl group in the early 1960s, and they were the very first girl group to have a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100. The members of the quartet were Shirley Owens (who was the lead singer for the most part), Doris Coley, Beverly Lee, and Addie "Micki" Harris. The quartet formed in New Jersey in 1958, and went on to release a string of hits including "Baby It's You", "Mama Said", and the #1 Pop hits "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "Soldier Boy". Their "Sha La La" became an international hit when covered by the British group Manfred Mann, and "Boys" was covered by [artsit]the Beatles (Ringo Starr singing lead).The Beatles also covered "Baby It's You" on their "Please Please Me" album. Although they had no more charting hits after 1967, the Shirelles continued recording for a small but devoted audience well into the 1970s and continued to tour and perform into the early 1980s. In 1968, Coley left the group to remarry and raise her family, and the group continued as a trio. In 1975, she returned only to replace Owens who departed to begin a solo career. On June 10, 1982, after a live concert in Atlanta, Harris succumbed to a heart attack (age 42); she was replaced by Louie Bethune. Shortly, the group went into semi-retirement, though they did accept an invitation to record backup vocals for Dionne Warwick in the late 1980s. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. On February 4, 2000, Coley lost a battle with breast cancer (age 58). The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.

Don't Say Goodnight and Mean Goodbye
The Shirelles Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tonight youre actin strange I find
And you got something on your mind.
Somethings wrong, I can see it,
See it in your eyes.
Whoa darlin,
Dont say goodnight and mean goodbye.

Oh, it may just be all in my mind
But tonight doesnt seem like other times
Then you were laughing and gay
But now I hear you sighing, oh yes I do.
Whoa whoa whoa darlin,
Dont say goodnight and mean goodbye.

Have I lost touch with your heart,
Or do I just worry too much?
I couldnt stand for us to part
Because I love you much, much too much.

So dont let this kiss be our last kiss
Let there be other nights of holding you like this
Please dont walk away, pretty baby
With that look in your eyes.
Oh no no, whoa darling,
Dont say goodnight and mean goodbye
Whoa oh oh baby,

Dont say goodnight and mean goodbye
Oh oh oh, dont say goodnight and mean goodbye.

Overall Meaning

The Shirelles' song "Don't Say Goodnight and Mean Goodbye" is a plea from a lover to not break up with them. The first verse sets the scene for the song as the singer notices a change in their partner's behavior. They know something is wrong and can see it in their eyes. The chorus serves as the main message of the song, with the singer begging their partner to not say goodnight and mean goodbye. The second verse adds to the tension by highlighting a change in the partner's demeanor from earlier times. This has the singer wondering if they've lost touch with their partner's heart or if they're just being paranoid. The chorus is repeated again, this time with added urgency as the lyrics plead for the partner to stay.


The final verse is the most heart-wrenching, with the singer begging for another chance to hold their partner and not let the kiss they share be their last. They're pleading with their partner to not have that look in their eyes that signifies the end of the relationship. The song ends repeating the chorus with added desperation and emotion.


Overall, the song is a classic plea for a relationship to continue and for two lovers not to part ways. It highlights the importance of communication and not assuming the worst in a situation.


Line by Line Meaning

Tonight you're actin strange I find
I can tell that something's off with you tonight


And you got something on your mind
I can see that you're preoccupied with something


Somethings wrong, I can see it, See it in your eyes
Your eyes are reflecting that something is bothering you


Whoa darlin, Don't say goodnight and mean goodbye
Please don't pretend to say goodnight when you actually mean goodbye


Oh, it may just be all in my mind
I might just be imagining things


But tonight doesn't seem like other times
Tonight feels different than other nights


Then you were laughing and gay
You were happy and carefree earlier


But now I hear you sighing, oh yes I do
But now you seem burdened or troubled


Whoa whoa whoa darlin, Don't say goodnight and mean goodbye.
Don't say goodbye if you don't actually mean it, my love.


Have I lost touch with your heart, Or do I just worry too much?
I'm questioning whether our connection has faded or if I'm just overthinking


I couldn't stand for us to part Because I love you much, much too much.
I care too deeply for you to bear the thought of us separating


So don't let this kiss be our last kiss
Let's not make this the final time we kiss goodbye


Let there be other nights of holding you like this
I want to have more nights where I can hold you like this


Please don't walk away, pretty baby With that look in your eyes.
Please don't leave, love, especially not with that worried look in your eyes


Oh no no, whoa darling, Don't say goodnight and mean goodbye
Please don't say goodnight as though it's goodbye


Whoa oh oh baby, Don't say goodnight and mean goodbye
Please don't bid me goodnight with the intention of ending things between us


Oh oh oh, don't say goodnight and mean goodbye.
Don't pretend everything's alright when it's not




Contributed by Zachary L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@hakimourabia249

The shirelles.marveletes.chiffon s.ronettes.crystals.supremes.marta and vandelas
All are fantastic.

@christhegreat8096

Fckn awesome ❤❤

@arthurburkhart3710

Kathie says…1963 was a great time for the girl groups and I loved them all, especially The Shirelles . SOLDIER BOY was always my favorite.

@Jevezy

I love to hear these ladies sing, your record is in excellent condition as well.

@harptone55

NICE!

@ronaldoriccardosingh7599

one I must have to dance

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