Goodbye Girl

Album: Goodbye Girl (1977)
Charted: 15
Play Video
  • All your life you've waited for love to come and stay
    And now that I have found you, you must not slip away
    I know it's hard believin' the words you've heard before
    But darlin' you must trust them just once more... 'cause baby

    Goodbye doesn't mean forever
    Let me tell you goodbye doesn't mean
    We'll never be together again
    If you wake up and I'm not there, I won't be long away

    'Cause the things you do my goodbye girl
    Will bring me back to you.

    I know you've been taken, afraid to hurt again
    You fight the love you feel for me instead of givin' in
    But I can wait forever, a-helpin' you to see
    That I was meant for you and you for me
    ... So remember

    Goodbye doesn't mean forever
    Let me tell you goodbye doesn't mean
    We'll never be together again
    Though we may be so far apart you still will have my heart
    So forget your past my goodbye girl
    'Cause now you're home at last. Writer/s: DAVID A. GATES
    Publisher: Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 12

  • Gale Rice from NcTakes me back to my first year at college. So many loves, so many goodbyes.
  • Edith O'neil-page from Huntington, VtFirst heard this song on a date with my soon to be husband and bought the dvd when it became available and watch 3-4 times a year. We still love it.
  • Don from Sevierville, TnI cannot stand this song - it reminds me too much of girls who put me in the "friend zone".
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 4th 1993, the Broadway musical 'The Goodbye Girl', starring Bernadette Peters & Martin Short, debut at the Marquis Theater in New York City, it ran for 188 performances...
    The played for based the 1977 movie of the same name...
    And exactly fifteen years earlier on March 4th, 1978 the movie’s theme song was at #30 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart...
    {See next two posts below}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 11th 1978, David Gates performed "Goodbye Girl" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was at #43 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on April 9th, 1978 it would peaked at #15 for 2 weeks {See next post below}...
    As mentioned above; the movie starred Richard Dreyfuss, and he would win the Oscar for 'Best Actor' {Marsha Mason was nominated for 'Best Actress', lost to Diane Keaton for 'Annie Hall'}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 11th 1977, "Goodbye Girl"* by David Gates entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #93; and 17 weeks later on April 9th, 1978 it peaked at #15 {for 2 weeks} and spent almost a half-year on the Top 100 {24 weeks}...
    As a solo artist he had six other Top 100 records; "Clouds" {#47 in 1973}, "Sail Around the World" {#50 in 1973}, "Never Let Her Go" {#29 in 1975", "Took the Last Train" {#30 in 1978}, "Where Does the Lovin' Go" {#46 in 1980}, and "Take Me now" {#62 in 1981}...
    * A nice birthday gift; "Goodbye Girl" entered the Top 100 on David Gates' 37th birthday; he was born on December 11th, 1940.
  • David from Honolulu, HiA beautiful song by David Gates! He is among my favorite top ten of singer/songwriters. Such a superb array of melodies & lyrics! I wish David was still active today. We need songwriters like him now.
  • Brent from Idaho Falls, IdI loved this song from the moment it played at the end of the movie. I was 17 and with my first love. She is long gone, but I continue to love this song. David Gates wrote a wonderful song!
  • Louis Rodriguez from Lancaster, CaDavid is a prolific song writer, one of the many songs that he has written is titled "Popsicles and Icicles by the Murmaids. It was a top ten record in 1963
  • Mitch from Indy, InHootie and the Blowfish did a good cover of this song.
  • Dave from Des Moines, IaExcellent song, very haunting
  • Nick from Pepperell, MaSO this is the song that goes "Goodbye girl now your home at last"
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up Musicians

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Charlie Daniels

Charlie DanielsSongwriter Interviews

Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."