Once Before I Go

Album: Not the Boy Next Door (1983)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Along with the title song for the album, Allen wrote this with Dean Pitchford, whose hits as a songwriter include "Fame" and "Make Me Lose Control." "Once Before I Go" was written for Allen's longtime friend Ann Margaret whose husband was sick. It had a deeper meaning when Allen's partner Gregory Connell passed away of AIDS a year later, and Allen was not afraid to tell Dean Pitchford what happened.

    Peter Allen was a mentor to Pitchford, who was also a stage actor/songwriter. Dean says that he learned how to write songs around characters from Allen, which came in handy for Pitchford's movie Footloose.
  • Hugh Jackman sang this in the bio-musical about Allen's life The Boy From Oz. It appears at the end of the show when he himself is dying and ends up in "Rio." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Sara - Silver Spring, MD, for above 2

Comments: 1

  • Anon from NoybThe Hugh Jackman version of this was used in the official tribute video for Alex Trebek when he passed.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Ralph Casale  - Session Pro

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Incongruent Opening Acts

Incongruent Opening ActsSong Writing

Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."