Kiss This One Goodbye

If you’re new to this blog, welcome.  What I try to do here is give you a song that’s been in my head, and break it down as to what it could mean for you.  It’s a little like a tarot card reading, except that the song takes the place of the cards.

That said, like tarot, a lot can be open to interpretation.

For example, if I tell you that an Andrew Gold song was in my head, you could take that to refer to a couple different things.

There are his two big hits from the 1970’s – “Thank You For Being A Friend” and “Lonely Boy”.  Both have fairly obvious meanings, and if they resonate with you, that could be what this little exercise means.

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Really, sometimes it is that simple.

When I get a song in my head, it could also refer to the album, to the period of time when it was released, or to something significant that I associate with the song.  And, in this case, since I’m offering this up to you, it could be something that YOU associate with the song.  Or the album.  Or the time period.

The song in question wasn’t a hit, though.  In fact, that album from which it came wasn’t really a hit, either.

The album was called “Whirlwind” and it was Andrew’s attempt at straying from what was expected of him to create a rock album.  This was much different from his previous recordings, both on his own (like to the two pop songs I already mentioned) and with Linda Ronstadt.

Stop there for a moment.

This is something else to think about in relation to this particular song.  Instead of being about the lyrics, the meaning for you could be about trying something new, something you always wanted to do even though it was out of your comfort zone, and much different from what others might be expecting from you.

“Kiss This One Goodbye”.  That’s the title of the song. 

It’s about letting go of something, or someone, that just isn’t good for you, or doesn’t serve a purpose for you anymore.

In the song, Andrew sings about a woman whom he loves, but who doesn’t treat him well.  He knows he deserves better, so it’s time to get rid of her and move on.

Of course, that’s a lot easier to do in a four minute song.  But that’s always the case, isn’t it?

Is it time to make a change?  Is there something or someone you’ve been holding onto even though you really know it isn’t in your best interest?  And never will be?

That’s a big idea to ponder. And many times, I find that songs are like that.  A talented songwriter can weave in exactly what you’re thinking or feeling, and present you with a melodic version of your problem and a possible solution.

And then other times, it’s just a catchy song.  And it might be deep and philosophical or romantic or a million other things, but mostly, it’s just a catchy song.

That is also true of “Kiss This One Goodbye”.

Songs can be a lot of things, evoking thoughts and feelings that the artist may not have even intended.

For me, Andrew Gold’s “Kiss This One Goodbye” is not about any of the things I mentioned.

In May of 1980, Saturday Night Live was wrapping up its fifth season.  This was to be the final season with the original cast.  While Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi had left at the end of the previous season, this would be the last one for original cast members Jane Curtain, Garrett Morris, Bill Murray, Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner.  Lorne Michaels even left, though he would return in 1985.

It was the end of an era.

And on that last episode of that final season, with Buck Henry as the host, Andrew Gold appeared as the musical guest.

So for me, this about endings, bringing one important, and successful, part of life to a close.  It may have served well, but the time to move on is now at hand.

And while this isn’t about a relationship, necessarily, the story of the end of that season of Saturday Night Live, the end of that era of the series, does seem to go along with the overall theme of the song.

It may not be about getting rid of something, or even someone, who no longer serves you.  It might just be about taking a break from being safe, and preparing to try something new.

And with that, let me let Buck Henry introduce you to Andrew Gold and his song “Kiss This One Goodbye”…