The Manhattans - Kiss and Say Goodbye

About the Song

The Manhattans were an American R&B vocal group who were popular in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The group was known for their smooth, soulful vocals and their romantic ballads. “Kiss and Say Goodbye” is one of their most popular songs, and it is considered a classic of the soul music genre.

The song was written by group member Winfred Lovett, and it was released in 1976. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, and it was also a hit in the United Kingdom and other countries.

“Kiss and Say Goodbye” is a ballad about a man who is saying goodbye to his lover. The song’s lyrics are simple but effective, and the melody is catchy and memorable. The song’s distinctive sound is characterized by the Manhattans’ smooth, soulful vocals and the use of strings and other orchestration.

The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including:

  • Donny Osmond
  • Michael Jackson
  • The Beach Boys
  • Engelbert Humperdinck

“Kiss and Say Goodbye” is a classic soul ballad that has stood the test of time. It is a song that is sure to continue to be enjoyed by listeners for many years to come.

Here are some additional details about the song:

  • The song was recorded in Los Angeles, California.
  • The song was produced by Jerry Fuller.
  • The song’s B-side was “I’m Losing You”.
  • The song was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number two on the UK Singles Chart.
  • The song has been covered by many artists, including Donny Osmond, Michael Jackson, and The Beach Boys.

Here are some interesting facts about the song:

  • The song was inspired by Lovett’s own experience of heartbreak.
  • The song was originally offered to The Beatles, but they turned it down.
  • The song was featured in the 1976 film The Graduate.

Jersey City loses two musical icons, original members of 'The Manhattans' - nj.com

Video

Lyrics: Kiss and Say Goodbye

This has got to be the saddest day of my life
I called you here today for a bit of bad news
I won’t be able to see you anymore
Because of my obligations, and the ties that you have
We’ve been meeting here everyday
And since this is our last day together
I wanna hold you just one more time
When you turn and walk away, don’t look back
I wanna remember you just like this
Let’s just kiss and say goodbyeI had to meet you here today
There’s just so many things to say
Please don’t stop me ’till I’m through
This is something I hate to do
We’ve been meeting here so long
I guess what we done, oh was wrong
Please darling, don’t you cry
Let’s just kiss and say goodbyeMany months have passed us by
(I’m gonna miss you)
I’m gonna miss you, I can’t lie
(I’m gonna miss you)
I’ve got ties, and so do you
I just think this is the thing to do
It’s gonna hurt me, I can’t lie
Maybe you’ll meet, you’ll meet another guy
Understand me, won’t you try, try, try, try, try, try, try
Let’s just kiss and say goodbye(I’m gonna miss you)
I’m gonna miss you, I can’t lie
(I’m gonna miss you)
Understand me, won’t you try
(I’m gonna miss you)
It’s gonna hurt me, I can’t lie
(I’m gonna miss you)
Take my handkerchief, wipe your eyes
(I’m gonna miss you)
Maybe you’ll find, you’ll find another guy
(I’m gonna miss you)
Let’s kiss and say goodbye, pretty baby
(I’m gonna miss you)
Please, don’t you cry
(I’m gonna miss you)
Understand me, won’t you try
(I’m gonna miss you)
Let’s just kiss
And say goodbye

You Missed

MINNIE PEARL WALKED ONSTAGE AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY FOR 50 YEARS WITH A $1.98 PRICE TAG ON HER HAT — AND THEN ONE NIGHT, SHE JUST COULDN’T ANYMORE. Here’s something most people don’t think about with Minnie Pearl. That price tag hanging off her straw hat? It wasn’t random. Sarah Cannon — that was her real name — created it as a joke about a country girl too proud of her new hat to take the tag off. And audiences loved it so much that it became the most recognizable prop in country music history. For over fifty years, that tag meant Minnie was here, and everything was going to be fun. So imagine what it felt like when she couldn’t put the hat on anymore. In June 1991, Sarah had a massive stroke. She was 79. And just like that, the woman who hadn’t missed an Opry show in decades was gone from the stage. But here’s what gets me. She didn’t die in 1991. She lived another five years after that stroke, mostly out of the public eye, unable to perform, unable to be “Minnie” the way she’d always been. Her husband Henry Cannon took care of her at their Nashville home. Friends visited, but they said it was hard. The woman who made millions of people laugh couldn’t get through a full conversation some days. Roy Acuff, her old friend from the Opry, kept her dressing room exactly the way she left it. Nobody used it. The hat sat there. She passed on March 4, 1996. And what most people remember is the comedy. The “HOW-DEEE” catchphrase. The big goofy grin. What they don’t remember is that Sarah Cannon was also a serious fundraiser for cancer research. Centennial Medical Center in Nashville named their cancer center after her — not after Minnie, after Sarah. She raised millions and rarely talked about it publicly. There’s a story about the very last time Sarah tried to put on the hat at home, months after the stroke, and what her husband said to her in that moment — it’s the kind of detail that makes you see fifty years of comedy completely differently. Roy Acuff kept Minnie Pearl’s dressing room untouched for years after she left — was that loyalty to a friend, or was he holding a door open for someone he knew was never coming back?