Cruising around town on a beautiful, crisp winter day with blue sky and sunshine and up comes one of the best songs ever about goodbyes–Night Ranger’s Goodbye.
“I was never much good at goodbye,” they sing and it’s true: I’ve never been good at goodbye. Even when I want to end something, I don’t really want to end it at all, I want to keep it out there somewhere, a touchstone I can reach for whenever I want. It validates something–I’m not sure what–maybe it’s that connections ground us and I’m afraid that without grounding I’ll float away like a hot air balloon.
Because really, we’re made of bits and pieces of everyone we’ve known and loved, and losing even a part of that seems like losing a limb. That’s what I think, anyway. You?
Video of Night Ranger’s beautiful song, Goodbye, HERE.
As the sun hides his head
For another night’s rest
And the wind sings
His same old song
And you on the edge
Never close, never far
Always there when I needed a friend
Yet it’s hard living life
On this memory-go-round
Always up, always down
Spinning ’round and ’round and ’round
And all this could be
Just a dream so it seems
I was never much good at goodbye
There once was a time
Never far from my mind
On the beach, on the 4th of July
I remember the sand
How you held out your hand
And we touched for what seemed a lifetime
Now it’s hard
Leaving all this behind me now
Like a schoolboy so lost
Never found until now
And all this could be
Just a dream so it seems
I was never much good at goodbye
Yet it’s hard
Living life on this memory-go-round
Always up, always down
Turning ’round and ’round and ’round
And all this could be
Just a dream so it seems
I was never much good at goodbye
I feel this sentiment and these lyrics on a visceral level, Carol. I’ve had so many good-byes in my life – places, homes, people and I’ve never heard this song. What a fit for a year winding down.
Yes, goodbyes are difficult, and yet I somehow find them liberating. I accept the realistic occurrence of ‘endings’. I tuck them away in a sweet spot and march forward. It’s hard. It sucks. I don’t like it, but I can’t let ‘endings’ be my ending- you know what I mean? I’ve had to re-invent myself so many times that if I’d gotten stuck with a change I’d be in a mental hospital ( as social director) but still in a MENTAL hospital.
Cracked me up–social director, indeed! I can’t tell you how much your comment resonated as I have been pondering some schisms that I can’t do anything about. Good timing!
With everyone leaving this house after a week of LOVE up to the rafters, I have HUGE post-mortem merry let down as I say farewell to all of them this morning. I read the poem and sobbed. I feel much better now. Sort of.
Love this post & yes, the goodbyes – nope not good at them & the permanent ones just keep staying in your heart – I am talking about loved ones we lose permanently…
This has been a year of good-byes for me…said goodbye to my dad at age 91. Your “bits and pieces” comment made me smile, however, because I know that “bits and pieces” of him will always be a part of me. Thanks for the post!
When we’re young, we can’t believe we’d ever appreciate those bit and pieces, but they sure do make me laugh when I recognize them, now! Blessings to you as you grieve–what a long life your Dad had! Hope it was a long and healthyone.
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I feel this sentiment and these lyrics on a visceral level, Carol. I’ve had so many good-byes in my life – places, homes, people and I’ve never heard this song. What a fit for a year winding down.
Yes, it’s year-end thinking, I suppose…
Yes, goodbyes are difficult, and yet I somehow find them liberating. I accept the realistic occurrence of ‘endings’. I tuck them away in a sweet spot and march forward. It’s hard. It sucks. I don’t like it, but I can’t let ‘endings’ be my ending- you know what I mean? I’ve had to re-invent myself so many times that if I’d gotten stuck with a change I’d be in a mental hospital ( as social director) but still in a MENTAL hospital.
Cracked me up–social director, indeed! I can’t tell you how much your comment resonated as I have been pondering some schisms that I can’t do anything about. Good timing!
With everyone leaving this house after a week of LOVE up to the rafters, I have HUGE post-mortem merry let down as I say farewell to all of them this morning. I read the poem and sobbed. I feel much better now. Sort of.
Don’t listen to the damn song, though.
Love this post & yes, the goodbyes – nope not good at them & the permanent ones just keep staying in your heart – I am talking about loved ones we lose permanently…
This has been a year of good-byes for me…said goodbye to my dad at age 91. Your “bits and pieces” comment made me smile, however, because I know that “bits and pieces” of him will always be a part of me. Thanks for the post!
When we’re young, we can’t believe we’d ever appreciate those bit and pieces, but they sure do make me laugh when I recognize them, now! Blessings to you as you grieve–what a long life your Dad had! Hope it was a long and healthyone.
Just said goodbye to a beloved Aunt. You never know when the “g word” is gonna sneak up on you. And, it’s never easy.
Ah, so sorry for your loss. Never easy.
I have never heard this song. Thank you for sharing it with us!