This song is about a girl Blunt dated, but he wrote it years after the relationship ended. When he appeared on the UK show Songbook, Blunt explained: "I guess it's a realization that you'll never be with someone, but the frustration that they are still alive and out there in the world. It can be an incredibly painful idea - I sat with the song for quite a long time. But for me, it's probably my most personal song. Whereas 'You're Beautiful' is about a moment, one second in time of passing that person, the song 'Goodbye My Lover' is about a lifetime's worth of emotion, the fact that that relationship is over, and that life continues. And yeah, it's the most personal song on Back To Bedlam 👍🏻🤩🏴
Absolutely, I think it's become a bit of a popular thing to dislike or make fun of him but Back to Bedlam still remains one of the best debut albums to ever exist. Not a bad song on the album. Just listen and let it take you away.
I have James Blunts Greatest Hits and there's a "note" about each song so I just read that. I'm just gonna quote how he explained it..."The pain of never seeing someone again who has died is crushing, but the pain of not being able to be with someone who is still alive eats at you, and that is where the song came from.". I hope that helps. He also recorded this very song in Carrie Fishers bathroom!
Live versions of this are even more emotional, especially the one at the Oxford Union. I agree it's a break up song but a lot of people at the time had it played at funerals so most of the sentiment works for that too.
My mom was a huge James Blunt fan when he came out in America. She bought this album and played it so much. She's still here but this song reminds me of my mom. Like it reminds me of her as my protector, as my rock. Without her I will be lost. I definitely see this song as not just being about break ups.
This always made me cry but since my best friend (f) passed last year it hits like a punch to the heart and soul, the line I'm so hollow broke me, I know what those words really mean now
This song was apparently recorded in Princess Leia's bathroom! James Blunt stayed with Carrie Fisher whilst making Back To Bedlam, his debut album, and the acoustics were so good in her bathroom he moved the piano in there for this one.
James Blunt is a song writing genius no one on earth can write like him aka no bravery. Carry you home and hundreds more all real to James he is a writing master xx
The emotion he sings this with live is intense. I haven't seen one live performance where he doesn't get teary eyed. He won't even talk about the real meaning. He always gives some random BS reply. No one sings with that much emotion without it being personal.
Thanks for reacting to this beautiful (though ,sad at the same same time) song!!.I recommend you to listen "same mistake","carry you home" and "1973" and also "youre beautiful",but you probably already know this song.
You have to do his song “Monsters” its about him saying goodbye to his father who was dying of kidney failure but due to the song a kidney donor was found, have a box of tissues near by.
@@mrtibbz10 it was the song a distant relative heard the song after which he was tested and found to be a match. The NHS didn’t find anyone due to him having a rare blood group.
It's not a farewell to someone who's dying. It's a breakup song. There are a number of references to the fact that he'll still be there for her if she cares. As she moves on, he asks her to remember him and what they used to be to each other. He'd spend a lifetime with her. He knows her fears and she knows his - all in the present tense. This is definitely not a requiem for a person but a relationship.
@@thumplife792 James himself says it's a break-up song: ""I guess it's a realization that you'll never be with someone, but the frustration that they are still alive and out there in the world. It can be an incredibly painful idea - I sat with the song for quite a long time. But for me, it's probably my most personal song. Whereas 'You're Beautiful' is about a moment, one second in time of passing that person, the song 'Goodbye My Lover' is about a lifetime's worth of emotion, the fact that that relationship is over, and that life continues. And yeah, it's the most personal song on Back To Bedlam."
@@daz_n James also gives different answers each time he is asked that question. Those that are close to him have said the real meaning. We can agree to disagree, because at the end of the day, you don't know any more than I do. Just James refusing to answer the question, and friends supposedly leaking the real meaning.
@@thumplife792 in the official video for James Blunt Good Bye My lover , it is shown that the woman may have passed away and is heavy hinted at but yeah , I think that was done in the Music video for more dramatic effect, however the song is about James Blunt's ex girlfriend ( and she didn't die in real life) You can look it up
This song always hits me.. I miss my ex so much 😢I never wanted a family.. then met the most amazing woman il ever meet had 2 beautiful kids with her she's the most amazingly strong beautiful woman I ever had, with her my love feels more like addiction, she makes me feel like I was worthy of something but life fucked it and it will always be my biggest regret, i had a dream that we were still together before the thing that broke us up and I held her and cried and begged not to go out on that day, and then I wake up and realise its gone 😢 if I could turn back time I would. Don't think il ever really love anyone as much as I do her
This hits hard. I've had a lady who was a part of my life. A part of my life after a long time relationship and divorce. She was truly my friend and eased my pain. For whatever the reasons, we were never able to connect the way that retrospectively, we should have... I'm in another relationship now. With being in a serious relationship I've had to say basically what James Blunt is saying here.
Love James Blunt. He does an incredible song called “No Bravery” about the human cost of war. A lot of the footage for the video was taken by him while he was deployed with the British Army in Kosovo.
Sorry guys but I don't agree with your viewpoint. I think it's a breakup song, not a farewell to someone who passed away. True that the story-telling is a bit misleading. You should probably watch the music video of this song. It's clear that it's a separation there. Love your reactions. Peace.
Its clearly 10000% about someone passing away. All you have to do is watch the original video and you'll see the cinematography when it shows the woman she's bathed in warm lights on the bed and when it switches to him he is in dark lighting. If that's not enough for you here's more. There's a line that says "and i will bare my soul in time, when I'm kneeling at your feet that's him visiting her grave. On his greatest hits album he says about the song that it was how you deal with losing someone you love through death.
I think this is about a breakup. 'As you move on, remember me, remember us and all we've used to be' is something you would say to a person who broke up with you and not someone who passed away
Monsters and No Tears are two other great songs, but he's done plenty.. I used consider him a bit of a joke but then my wife made me go to see him in concert and I completely changed my opinion of him and his music. Happy to admit it, I was so wrong.
I loved the reaction! If there is a possibility could you check out a song by poor man's posion called hell's coming with me? I think that you both will really enjoy it! Hope you both are doing well and have a good one!
You really need to react to Monsters...woah...intense but soooo good. This one is about a breakup. Check the lyrics again. It's the end for her but not for him.
