Top 20 Goodbye Songs

Feature Photo: S. Kuelcue / Shutterstock.com

In composing a list of 20 songs about goodbye, there were some that I just couldn’t bear to put on this list. Songs that were just so obvious, like John Denver’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” Supertramp’s “Goodbye Stranger,” and many of the common ones, are ones that I just wanted to stay away from. Of course, there are plenty on here that everyone is going to think of, and that’s okay; these are songs that I really liked. But I also wanted to dig a little deeper like we always do on these lists, and I think we came up with some really good ones that might make some people go “Oh yeah, I remember that one.”

# 20 – The Last Song – Edward Bear

I wonder how many people remember this one. If you’re over 60, you most definitely will. This one was pretty heartbreaking. When he sings, “you’ll be looking for the light, but it won’t be there, ” it just knocks you down. Edward Bear released this one in 1972.

# 19 – Goodbye To Love – The Carpenters

The golden, mesmerizing vocals of Karen Carpenter cuts right through you when she sings about just giving up entirely on the concept of love. The song was released in 1972 and reached number 7 on the Billboard Top 100.

# 18 – Already Gone – The Eagles

With this one, the goodbye sounds like a victory. Glenn Frey knocks it out of the park with his rocking celebratory vocal on this fun Eagles track released on the On The Border album in 1974.

# 17 – Goodbye Girl – David Gates

The unmistakable vocals of David Gates, who released so many sensational songs with his group Bread, had a huge hit with this song, which also served as the title track of the Richard Dreyfuss film Goodbye Girl.

# 16 – Ellis Island – Mary Black

Ireland’s true musical gem, Mary Black, sings a haunting song about immigrants saying goodbye to their families forever as they embarked on a journey to a new life and a new world. This one is harrowing,

# 15 – Old Shoes – Tom Waits

In the early days of his career, Tom Waits composed some of the most compelling gin-soaked ballads of the early 70s soft rock generation. Although his tended to be darker with a touch of sarcasm or humor, there were a handful that were quite touching; just listen to the lyrics: “And farewell to the girl with the sun in her eyes, And I kiss you, and then I’ll be gone,” and you will understand what I mean.

# 14 – Goodbye Blue Sky – Pink Floyd

Released on Pink Floyd’s album The Wall at the end of the 1970s, the blue sky symbolized saying goodbye to beauty and peace during wartime.

# 13 – Ramble On – Led Zeppelin

The first of two Led Zeppelin songs to make this list. The title says it all ….. The song was originally released on the band’s second album, appropriately titled Led Zeppelin II.

# 12 – Warren Zevon – Keep Me In Your Heart

Knowing he was dying, Warren Zevon wanted to release one final album, and this track turned out to be almost too difficult to listen to. The ultimate goodbye. It was even difficult to look at that album cover. Life can be so hard.

# 11 – Another Day – Tedeschi Trucks Band

This is a beautiful farewell song painted with a ray of hope. You can hear it both in the sound of Derek Trucks’ guitar and the captivating lyrics sung by Susan Tedeschi.

# 10 – Bobby Jean – Bruce Springsteen

Springsteen’s loving farewell to his longtime bandmate Steven Van Zandt, released on the Born in the U.S.A. album. Van Zandt was leaving to pursue a solo career, a decision he said later on he regretted.

# 9 – Farewell, Angelina – Joan Baez

If you have never heard Joan Baez’s cover version of this Bob Dylan classic, make sure you hit play below.

# 8 – And When I Die – Laura Nyro

Bronx-born and raised Laura Nyro wrote this one about not carrying on when having to say goodbye for good, but rather about the basic aspects of life that will always be carried on by another. Laura wrote it, but Blood Sweat and Tears had the big hit with it. I still like Laura’s version better.

# 7 – By The Time I Get To Phoenix – Glen Campbell

Composed by the brilliant Jimmy Webb, this song about goodbye was all about doing it by leaving a note. Before she wakes up. Ouch!

# 6 – Lover’s Cross – Jim Croce

This is such a brilliantly written song about saying goodbye, composed by the late Jim Croce. Just listen closely to those very sad lyrics that make complete sense. Lines like ‘Cause now it seems that you wanted a martyr, Just a regular guy wouldn’t do But baby, I can’t hang upon no lover’s cross for you” say it as no one has ever said it before.

# 5 – The Day They Closed the Factory Down – Harry Chapin

Not all goodbyes are about the ending of a relationship. In this very deep song, composed by Harry Chapin, he talks about how the closing of a factory where everyone works pretty much ends the life of the Town itself. People have to move on and say goodbye.

# 4 – Ruby Tuesday – The Rolling Stones

Keith Richards wrote this one about saying goodbye to his girlfriend Linda. As Billy Joel famously wrote, ‘If you said goodbye to me tonight, there would still be music left to write. That’s just what musicians do, and this was one of Keith’s best.

# 3 – Babe I’m Gonna Leave You – Led Zeppelin

I saw many girls in high school tear up when listening to this song. Robert Plant had a pretty big impact on young women back then. And of course, Led Zeppelin had a massive impact on all of us. This one was released on their first album.

# 2 – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

It’s unbelievable how many spectacular songs were released on this two-record set in 1973. I have done a lot of Elton John lists on this site over the years, and this is the song that tends to top many of those lists.