Hello Goodbye
The Yellow Subs Lyrics

The lyrics to The Beatles' "Hello, Goodbye" describe a relationship that seems to be characterized by disagreement and misunderstandings. The singer begins by listing some of the conflicting responses that he and his partner have to certain situations - she says "yes" while he says "no," she says "stop" while he says "go, go, go." The chorus serves to highlight the confusion that characterizes their communication; while his partner says "goodbye," the singer responds with a cheerful "hello, hello, hello," expressing his frustration with their inability to understand one another. In the second verse, the same pattern repeats - this time with the singer saying "high" while his partner says "low," and with the singer admitting that he doesn't know why she always says goodbye when he says hello. The final lines of the song repeat the chorus, emphasizing the irony and futility of their interactions.

Some have interpreted the song as a commentary on communication breakdowns in general, or on the breakdown of communication between the band members themselves. Others have seen it as a more lighthearted poke at the misunderstanding between the sexes or as a playful nod to the band's own experience of being misunderstood by their fans. Regardless of the interpretation, the song's upbeat sound and catchy chorus have made it a beloved classic among Beatles fans and music lovers more generally.