After You've Gone
Love's Echo: Nostalgia and Heartache in 'After You've Gone'
Lyrics
Now won't you listen honey, while I say,
Expressing a plea for attention and asking the listener to pay heed.
How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Questioning the honesty of the statement about leaving.
Don't say that we must part,
Asking not to mention separation or breakup.
Don't break your baby's heart
Advising against causing emotional pain or heartbreak.
You know I've loved you for these many years,
Stating a long period of love for the person being addressed.
Loved you night and day,
Emphasizing continuous love, both day and night.
Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
Expressing sadness and pleading for understanding through tears.
Listen while I say
Reiterating the request for attentive listening.
After you've gone and left me cryin'
Anticipating the emotional aftermath of the person leaving.
After you've gone there's no denyin'
Acknowledging the undeniable reality of the departure.
You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
Describing the emotional state of feeling blue and sad.
You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
Predicting the longing for the departed as the dearest companion.
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
Asserting a future moment of realization and regret.
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
Emphasizing the inevitability of remorse at some point.
Someday, when you grow lonely
Pointing to a future time of loneliness and heartbreak.
Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
Drawing a parallel between the speaker's and the listener's heartbreak.
After you've gone, after you've gone away
Highlighting the consequences of the departure.
After you've gone and left me cryin'
Repeating the emotional impact of the departure.
After you've gone there's no denyin'
Reiterating the undeniable nature of the separation.
You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
Emphasizing the expected emotions of feeling blue and sad.
You're gonna feel bad
Adding a sense of feeling bad as a consequence.
And you'll miss, and you'll miss,
Highlighting the anticipation of missing the departed.
And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had
Emphasizing the depth of the friendship being missed.
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
Repeating the theme of future regret.
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
Reiterating the inevitability of remorse.
But baby, think what you're doin'
Addressing the listener directly and questioning their actions.
I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so
Threatening to haunt and taunt the listener as a consequence.
It's gonna drive you to ruin
Predicting that the haunting and taunting will lead to ruin.
After you've gone, after you've gone away.
Repeating the idea of consequences after the departure.
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