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, asking the listener to hear a message.
How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Questioning a statement about the listener leaving.
Don't say that we must part,
Begging not to part ways.
Don't break your baby's heart
Emphasizing the emotional impact on the speaker if the listener leaves.
You know I've loved you for these many years,
Reflecting on the long-term love for the listener.
Loved you night and day,
Highlighting continuous love day and night.
Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
Expressing visible tears and emotional distress.
Listen while I say
Reiterating the request for the listener to pay attention.
After you've gone and left me cryin'
Anticipating the emotional aftermath once the listener departs.
After you've gone there's no denyin'
Acknowledging the undeniable consequences of the departure.
You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
Describing the emotional state of the listener after leaving.
You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
Predicting the longing for the departed companion.
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
Emphasizing the inevitability of a future realization.
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
Foreshadowing regret that will come at a later time.
Someday, when you grow lonely
Referring to 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
Specifying the departure as the point of reference for future emotions.
After you've gone and left me cryin'
Repeating the emotional response to the listener's departure.
After you've gone there's no denyin'
Reiterating the undeniable impact of the departure.
You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
Describing the emotional state of the listener, including sadness and regret.
You're gonna feel bad
Emphasizing the intensity of negative emotions felt by the listener.
And you'll miss, and you'll miss,
Stressing the magnitude of missing the departed companion.
And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had
Emphasizing the profound significance of the departed companion.
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
Repeating the idea of an inevitable realization and regret.
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
Reiterating the future regret but addressing the listener as "baby."
But baby, think what you're doin'
Urging the listener to consider the consequences of their actions.
I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so
Warning of haunting and taunting as a consequence of leaving.
It's gonna drive you to ruin
Emphasizing the negative impact that the departure will have.
After you've gone, after you've gone away.
Summarizing the consequences of the listener's departure.
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