Westlife is an Irish pop group formed on 3 July 1998. The group's original… Read Full Bio ↴Westlife is an Irish pop group formed on 3 July 1998. The group's original lineup comprised Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Markus Feehily, Shane Filan and Brian McFadden (who left in 2004). The group is the only act in UK history to have their first seven singles go straight to Number 1, and they have gone on to sell over 45 million records worldwide.

They were signed by Simon Cowell and are managed by Louis Walsh. In 2008, they were declared as Republic of Ireland's ninth-richest celebrities under 30 years old and 13th in general. They garnered 14 number one singles in the United Kingdom, the third-highest in UK history, tying with Cliff Richard and trailing behind only Elvis Presley and The Beatles. The group has also broken a few top records, including "Music artist with most consecutive number 1's in the UK" and the "Biggest selling arena act in the Wembley Arena".

Over years of their career, Westlife's music has evolved from teen pop to a pop sound, with an emphasis on ballads. Most of the group's hits have been composed by experienced songwriters, most notably Steve Mac and Wayne Hector.

On 1 June 2008, Westlife marked their 10th anniversary with a concert in Croke Park, Dublin which saw more than 83,000 fans attending the special occasion. Music Week revealed on their website that Westlife is the official third top touring act within the years 2005–2008, while they were 7th top touring act of 2008.

They have announced that they are to split in 2012 after 14 years following a final tour.

Leaving
Westlife Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Watching the clock on the wall
Been a while since you called
I can't help but wait
It's late and I can't get no sleep
Something's different this time
It just doesn't feel right
Have we broken in two?
Am I really gonna lose you tonight?

You come walking in
Tears in your eyes
Pretending like it's alright

But I know you're leaving
I know that smile
I can tell you've been crying
You're gonna say goodbye
I wish I could stop you
But you've made up your mind
I beg you don't go
But I already know you're leaving

Where does the time go?
Between goodbye and hello
How did we come to this is there something we missed
Along the way
With your bags at the door
I wanna pull you in close
And hold you once more even though

But I know you're leaving
I know that smile
I can tell you've been crying
You're gonna say goodbye
I wish I could stop you
But you've made up your mind
I beg you don't go
But I already know you're leaving

Here come the sleepless nights
Here come the tears I'm gonna cry
Here comes the last goodbye leaving us behind
Oh this can't be right

But I know you're leaving
I know that smile
I can tell you've been crying
You're gonna say goodbye
I wish I could stop you
But you've made up your mind

I beg you don't go
But I already know you're leaving

Overall Meaning

The song "Leaving" by Westlife is a powerful ballad about heartbreak and the end of a relationship. The lyrics describe the longing and desperation of the singer as he awaits the arrival of his lover who he suspects is about to break up with him. The first verse sets the scene, with the singer watching the clock and waiting for his lover's call. He can't sleep and knows that something is wrong. He wonders if they have broken in two, and if he is really going to lose her tonight. When she finally arrives, he can see that she has been crying and knows immediately that she is leaving him. The chorus is repeated throughout the song, with the singer begging her to stay and trying to convince her to change her mind.

The second verse reflects on the past, wondering how they came to this point and if there is something they missed along the way. The singer holds out a last hope, wishing he could pull her close and hold her once more. But he knows it's too late, and that she has already made up her mind. The final verse is a realization of what is to come: the sleepless nights, the tears, and the final goodbye that will leave them both behind. The song ends with the repeated chorus, emphasizing the inevitability of the situation and the pain that the singer feels.

Overall, "Leaving" is a deeply emotional ballad that captures the pain of heartbreak and the desperation of trying to hold on to something that is slipping away. The lyrics are simple and straightforward, with a powerful chorus that is sure to evoke a strong emotional response from listeners.

Line by Line Meaning

Watching the clock on the wall
I'm anxiously waiting for your call, time is ticking away.

Been a while since you called
It's been a long time since you've made an effort to communicate with me.

I can't help but wait
I have a strong desire to hear from you, even though it's causing me anxiety.

It's late and I can't get no sleep
It's late at night and I'm unable to fall asleep because I'm worried about our situation.

Something's different this time
There's a noticeable change in our relationship, and it doesn't feel good.

It just doesn't feel right
My intuition is telling me that something is wrong.

Have we broken in two?
I'm questioning if our relationship is coming to an end.

Am I really gonna lose you tonight?
I'm afraid that you're going to leave me soon.

You come walking in
You arrive, but something about you is different than before.

Tears in your eyes
Your eyes are red and puffy, revealing that you've been crying.

Pretending like it's alright
You're putting on a show of strength, acting like everything is okay, but I know it's not.

But I know you're leaving
I'm aware that our relationship is coming to an end.

I know that smile
Even though you're trying to hide it, I can see that smile you have when you want to tell me something unpleasant.

I can tell you've been crying
Your eyes and demeanor tell me that you've been upset.

You're gonna say goodbye
I know that you're going to break up with me.

I wish I could stop you
I want to do something to change your mind, but I know deep down it won't work.

But you've made up your mind
You've decided to end our relationship and nothing I say can change that.

I beg you don't go
I'm pleading with you to stay with me.

Where does the time go?
I'm questioning how we got to this point in our relationship.

Between goodbye and hello
Our relationship has gone from hopeful beginnings to a heartbreaking end.

How did we come to this is there something we missed
I'm reflecting on our relationship and trying to see if I missed any signs of trouble.

With your bags at the door
You're ready to leave and your bags are packed.

I wanna pull you in close
I want to hold you tightly, to cherish the moments we have left together.

And hold you once more even though
I want to embrace you, despite knowing that it's the last time.

Here come the sleepless nights
I will have many nights where I won't be able to sleep because my heart is so heavy.

Here come the tears I'm gonna cry
I will undoubtedly cry many tears because of this breakup.

Here comes the last goodbye leaving us behind
This is the final farewell, and it's incredibly hard to let go.

Oh this can't be right
This ending to our relationship doesn't feel fair, just or right.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Anthem Entertainment, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CARL ANTHONY FALK, STEVEN LEE OLSEN, BRYN LOUIE CHRISTOPHER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS