After You've Gone
Love's Echo: Nostalgia in Jack Teagarden's 'After You've Gone'
Lyrics
Now won't you listen honey, while I say,
Expressing a plea for attention, asking the listener to hear a message.
How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Questioning why the listener mentioned leaving.
Don't say that we must part,
Discouraging the idea of separation.
Don't break your baby's heart
Advising against causing emotional pain.
You know I've loved you for these many years,
Affirming long-term love and commitment.
Loved you night and day,
Highlighting continuous affection.
Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
Expressing sorrow with tears.
Listen while I say
Reiterating the importance of listening.
After you've gone and left me cryin'
Describing the emotional aftermath of the listener leaving.
After you've gone there's no denyin'
Stating the inevitable, acknowledging the absence.
You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
Predicting the listener's feelings of sadness.
You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
Anticipating the longing for a dear friend.
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
Highlighting a future realization for the listener.
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
Predicting regret in the future.
Someday, when you grow lonely
Describing a lonely future for the listener.
Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
Comparing future heartbreaks.
After you've gone, after you've gone away
Reiterating the impact of departure.
After you've gone and left me cryin'
Repeating the emotional aftermath of departure.
After you've gone there's no denyin'
Reaffirming the undeniable absence.
You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
Predicting the listener's negative emotions.
You're gonna feel bad
Emphasizing the depth of negative feelings.
And you'll miss, and you'll miss,
Stressing the longing for the departed friend.
And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had
Repeating the idea of missing the best friend.
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
Reiterating the future realization of regret.
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
Anticipating the listener's future remorse.
But baby, think what you're doin'
Cautioning the listener about the consequences of their actions.
I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so
Warning of persistent haunting and taunting due to the departure.
It's gonna drive you to ruin
Predicting a detrimental effect on the listener.
After you've gone, after you've gone away.
Reiterating the impact of departure on the listener.
Comment