Labour & Pop Culture: Goodbye again

This week’s instalment of Labour & Pop Culture is “Goodbye again” by John Denver. This song picks up on last week’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane”. Denver noted that the songs really belong together, even though they were written about five years apart.

The themes of stress caused by travelling for work are similar in both songs. This song, though, has some added depth in that it explores Denver’s reason for travelling.

I have to go and see some friends of mine, some that I don't know
And some who aren't familiar with my name,
It's something that's inside of me not hard to understand
It's anyone who listens to me sing

He also examines how this internal drive to perform in part makes him who he is and also provides a contrasting absence that makes the time they spend together the sweeter.

And if your hours are empty now, who am I to blame
You think if I were always here, our love would be the same
As it is the time we have, is worth the time alone
And lying by your side, the greatest peace I've ever known

It was a bit hard to find a video but this one from Japan in the early ‘80s really captures the honesty of his voice nicely.



It's five o'clock this morning, and the sun is on the rise
There's frosting on the window pane, and sorrow in your eyes
The stars are fading quietly, night is nearly gone
And so you turn away from me, and tears begin to come

And it's goodbye again, I'm sorry to be leavin' you
Goodbye again, as if you didn't know
It's goodbye again, and I wish you could tell me
Why do we always fight when I have to go

It seems a shame to leave you now, the days are soft and warm
I long to lay me down again, to hold you in my arms
I long to kiss the tears away, "and" give you back the smile
"But" other voices beckon me, "and for" a little while

It's goodbye again, I'm sorry to be leavin' you
Goodbye again, as if you didn't know
It's goodbye again, and I wish you could tell me
Why do we always fight when I have to go

I have to go and see some friends of mine, some that I don't know
And some who aren't familiar with my name,
It's something that's inside of me not hard to understand
It's anyone who listens to me sing

And if your hours are empty now, who am I to blame
You think if I were always here, our love would be the same
As it is the time we have, is worth the time alone
And lying by your side, the greatest peace I've ever known

But it's goodbye again, I'm sorry to be leavin' you
Goodbye again, as if you didn't know
It's goodbye again, and I wish you could tell me
Why do we always fight when I have to go

-- Bob Barnetson