Never Can Say Goodbye
Never Can Say Goodbye Lyrics
No no no no
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 seem 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
Never can say goodbye
Every time I think I've had enough
I start heading for the door
There's a very strange vibration
That passes me right through the core
It says, "Turn around, you fool"
You know you'll love her more and more
Tell me why is it so
Don't wanna let you go
I never can say goodbye
Oo oo, baby
I never can say goodbye
No no no
No no no, oo
Oh, I never can say goodbye
Oo oo, I never can say goodbye
No no no
No no no, oo
Never can say goodbye
No no no no
Never can say goodbye
I keep thinkin' that our problems
Soon are all gonna work out
But there's that same unhappy feeling
And there's that anguish, there's that doubt
It's that same old, 'Did you hang up?
Can't do with you all the time'
Tell me why is it so
Don't wanna let you go
I never can say goodbye, girl
Oo oo, baby
I never can say goodbye
No no no
No no no, oo
Oh, I'm never gonna say you goodbye, girl
Oo ho, I'm never gonna say you goodbye
No no no
No no no, oo
Oh no, I'm never gonna say you goodbye, girl
Oo oo, baby, I'm never gonna say you goodbye
No no no
No no no, oo oo
About
“Never Can Say Goodbye” is a song written by Clifton Davis and originally recorded by The Jackson 5. The song was originally written and intended for the Supremes to record; however Motown decided the song would be better for the Jackson 5. Released as a single in 1971, it was one of the group’s most successful songs. The song has been covered numerous times, most notably in 1974 by disco diva Gloria Gaynor and in 1987 by British pop group The Communards.'
The recording features 12-year-old Michael Jackson singing a serious song about a love, with accompaniment from his brothers. Although such a record was unusual for a teenage group, “Never Can Say Goodbye” was a #2 hit for three consecutive weeks on the Billboard Pop Singles chart, stuck behind Three Dog Night’s “Joy to the World” (May 8-May 22, 1971), and a #1 hit on the Billboard Black Singles chart in the United States.[1] In the United Kingdom, it reached #33 on the UK Singles Chart.
Notable televised performances of the song by the Jackson 5 (and their newer incarnation, The Jacksons) include:
The Flip Wilson Show, November 4, 1971 – this recording appears on the 2009 Jackson 5 CD I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters
One More Time (Jackson 5 TV special), January 10, 1974
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, April 4, 1974
Cher, March 16, 1975
The Jacksons, July 7, 1976
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, May 16, 1983
In addition, the song appeared on the animated TV show The Jackson 5ive in the episode “A Rare Pearl”, which aired on January 15, 1972.
This version appears in the 1994 movie Crooklyn and on the second volume of its soundtrack album.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
