Founded in Detroit, Michigan, United States in 1959, The Supremes began as a quartet called The Primettes. Founding members Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, and Betty McGlown, all from the Brewster-Douglas public housing project in Detroit, were the sister act to The Primes (later The Temptations). In 1960, Barbara Martin replaced McGlown, and the group signed with Motown in 1961 as The Supremes. Martin left at the end of 1961, and Ross, Ballard, and Wilson carried on as a trio. After they achieved success in the mid-1960s with Ross as the lead singer, Motown president Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross & the Supremes in 1967, and replaced Ballard with Cindy Birdsong. Ross left the group for a solo career in 1970, and was replaced by Jean Terrell. After 1972, the lineup of the Supremes changed frequently, with Lynda Laurence, Scherrie Payne, and Susaye Greene all becoming members before the group ended its eighteen-year existence in 1977.
Never Can Say Goodbye
The Supremes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No, I never can say goodbye
Even though the pain and heartaches
Seems to follow me wherever I go
Thought I tried and tried to hide my feelings
They always seem to show
Then you try to say you're leaving me
And I always had to say no
No, I never can say goodbye
Oh oh, never can say goodbye
Every time I think I've had enough
And start headed for the door
There's a very strange vibration
Piercing me right to the core
It says, "turn around, you fool
You know you love him more and more and more and more
(Tell me why) is it so?
I can't let you go
Never can say goodbye
I just can't let you go
Never can say goodbye, no, no, no, oh baby
Never can say goodbye
I just can't say goodbye
(Never can say goodbye) ooh
Never can say goodbye
No, no, no I
Never can say goodbye
I know all our problems
Sooner all gonna work out
But there's that same unhappy feeling
There's that anguish, there's that doubt
It's the same old dizzy hang-up
Can't live with him, can't live without
Tell me why (tell me why) is it so?
Don't wanna let you go
I never can say goodbye
Never can say goodbye, no no no
No no no, no-no-no, oh baby
I never can say goodbye
Never can say goodbye
The Supremes's Never Can Say Goodbye is a song about the conflicting emotions experienced in a relationship that has run its course. The singer can't seem to let go of her partner despite the pain and heartaches they've experienced as a couple. The opening lines, "Oh, I never can say goodbye, no, I never can say goodbye," suggest her reluctance to let go. She has tried to hide her feelings, but they always find a way to resurface. Her partner tries to leave, but she can't deny her love for him, and so she always ends up saying no.
The chorus is an acknowledgment of this dilemma: "Every time I think I've had enough and start headed for the door, there's a very strange vibration piercing me right to the core. It says, 'turn around, you fool, you know you love him more and more and more and more.'" The "vibration" might represent the singer's gut feeling, intuition, or even the memories shared with her partner that still linger despite the pain.
Towards the end of the song, the singer acknowledges that all their problems will eventually work out, but the "same old dizzy hang-up" remains. She "can't live with him, can't live without" and she doesn't want to let him go. The song reflects the complexity of human emotions and the difficulties of letting go of something or someone dear despite the pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I never can say goodbye
I find it difficult to leave and say goodbye to you.
No, I never can say goodbye
Even though our relationship has some problems, I cannot let you go.
Even though the pain and heartaches
Despite the sadness and suffering in our relationship,
Seems to follow me wherever I go
These sad feelings seem to always stay with me.
Thought I tried and tried to hide my feelings
I attempted to conceal my feelings, but
They always seem to show
My true emotions always become apparent.
Then you try to say you're leaving me
When you mention ending our relationship
And I always had to say no
I always tell you to stay and not go.
Tell me why (tell me why) is it so?
Can you explain why our relationship is like this?
Every time I think I've had enough
When I feel like I can't handle it anymore
And start headed for the door
And begin to leave
There's a very strange vibration
I feel a strong energy
Piercing me right to the core
That penetrates deeply within me
It says, "turn around, you fool
It tells me to go back
You know you love him more and more and more and more
Because I love you more with each passing moment
(Tell me why) is it so?
Can you explain why our relationship is like this?
I can't let you go
I cannot bear to part ways with you.
I know all our problems
I understand that we have some issues.
Sooner all gonna work out
I believe that our problems will eventually be resolved.
But there's that same unhappy feeling
However, I still feel unhappy.
There's that anguish, there's that doubt
I am plagued by grief and uncertainty.
It's the same old dizzy hang-up
This is the same old frustration, confusion and emotional turmoil.
Can't live with him, can't live without
I can neither stay with you nor leave you.
Tell me why (tell me why) is it so?
Can you explain why our relationship is like this?
Don't wanna let you go
I do not want to part ways with you.
Never can say goodbye
I can never say goodbye.
I just can't let you go
I simply cannot bear to let you go.
No, no, no, oh baby
I cannot do it.
(Never can say goodbye) ooh
I can never say goodbye.
Never can say goodbye
I can never say goodbye.
No no no
I cannot do it.
Never can say goodbye
I can never say goodbye.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Clifton Davis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind