After You've Gone
Love's Echo: Nostalgia of a Heart Left Behind
Lyrics
Now won't you listen honey, while I say,
Expressing a plea for attention and asking the listener to hear what is going to be said.
How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Questioning a statement about the listener's intention to leave.
Don't say that we must part,
Discouraging the idea of separation.
Don't break your baby's heart
Urging not to cause emotional pain or heartbreak.
You know I've loved you for these many years,
Affirming a long-standing love over the years.
Loved you night and day,
Highlighting constant love day and night.
Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
Expressing sadness and pleading for understanding, possibly through tears.
Listen while I say
Reiterating the importance of listening to the speaker's words.
After you've gone and left me cryin'
Reflecting on the emotional aftermath once the listener has departed.
After you've gone there's no denyin'
Emphasizing the undeniable reality that the listener has left.
You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
Predicting the listener's future emotions of sadness and melancholy.
You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
Anticipating the longing for the companionship lost.
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
Forewarning that a time will come for the listener to regret their decision.
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
Reiterating the inevitability of future regret.
Someday, when you grow lonely
Speculating about a future moment of loneliness for the listener.
Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
Comparing the listener's future heartbreak to the speaker's current pain.
After you've gone, after you've gone away
Repeating the idea that the listener will feel the absence after departure.
After you've gone and left me cryin'
Recalling the emotional aftermath of the listener's departure.
After you've gone there's no denyin'
Reiterating the undeniable absence left by the listener.
You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
Emphasizing the listener's future feelings of sadness and regret.
You're gonna feel bad
Stressing the depth of negative emotions the listener will experience.
And you'll miss, and you'll miss,
Underlining the magnitude of missing the departed companion.
And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had
Reiterating the strong bond that will be missed.
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
Anticipating a future moment of regret for the listener.
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
Repeating the warning about impending regret for the listener.
But baby, think what you're doin'
Addressing the listener directly, urging them to consider their actions.
I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so
Forewarning that the speaker will haunt and taunt the listener emotionally.
It's gonna drive you to ruin
Predicting that the listener's actions will lead to their own downfall.
After you've gone, after you've gone away.
Repeating the idea that the listener will feel the absence after departure.
Comment