Jackson 5: Never Can Say Goodbye

Remarks:

This song still gives me goosebumps. It never gets old. It went to #1 on the American R&B charts in 1971, the fifth #1 hit for the Jackson 5. Isaac Hayes sang it the same year and got to #22. Gloria Gaynor made it into a disco song in 1974 and took it to #34 – I heard it just the other day.

The song was used to effect in “Crooklyn” (1994).

Lyrics:

I never can say goodbye, no, no, no, no, now.

I never can say goodbye.Even though the pain and heartache
Seems to follow me wherever I go,
Though I try and try to hide my feelings,
They always seems to show,Then you try to say you’re leaving me
And I always have to say no,
Tell me why is it so.

That I never can say goodbye, no, no, no, no, now.
I never can say goodbye.

Everytime I think I’ve had enough
And start heading for the door,
There’s a very strange vibration
Piercing me right through the core,
It says, “Turn around, you fool, you know you love him more and more.”
Tell me why is it so.

Don’t wanna let go.
Never can say goodbye.
Boy oo oo baby.
Never can say goodbye. No no no no no oo.
Oh, I never can say goodbye.
Boy oo oo.

I never can say goodbye. No no no no no oo.
Never can say goodbye, no, no, no, no, now.
I never can say goodbye.

I keep thinking that our problems
Soon are all gonna work out.
But there’s that same unhappy feeling,
There’s that anguish, there’s that doubt.
It’s the same old dizzy hangup,
Can’t do with you or without.
Tell me why is it so, don’t wanna let you go.