Tonight’s singer you already know: Solomon Burke, the King of Rock and Soul. This time he isn’t promising to stay. He is saying goodbye.
Learn from Songs · Unit 4: The future · B1
Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)
Solomon Burke’s dramatic farewell, produced by Bert Berns: the present continuous for decisions about the future (I’m leaving tonight), will and won’t, be going to, and ways of saying goodbye, with Philo, Sophia, Marcos and Demetria.
SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
Why is he leaving?
SOPHIA
Listen and decide for yourself. But listen to how he says it: the decision is made, and he is leaving.
MARCOS
No more “if you need me”, then.
Before you listen: the song
New York, 1964
After “If You Need Me” and “Cry to Me”, Solomon Burke was one of the great voices of soul. Many of his best records were produced by Bert Berns, a songwriter and producer famous for songs full of drama and pain.
“Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)” was written by Wes Farrell and Bert Berns (using the name Bert Russell). It was released in 1964, reached number 33 in America, and opens Burke’s album Rock ’n’ Soul, which is listed among the 1001 albums you must hear before you die.
In the song, the singer says goodbye. He’s made up his mind: he’s leaving, and he won’t be back.
A clear goodbye is kinder than a long one.
Listen: the goodbye
PHILO
Listen once. Has he decided? How does his voice show it?
SOPHIA
Then answer Section A.
👋 Listen to the song: “Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)” (Wes Farrell and Bert Russell, 1964), sung by Solomon Burke.Find the recording →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)”, Solomon Burke.Read the lyrics →
Present continuous for the future
MARCOS
I’m leaving tonight. I’m taking the morning boat. We’re meeting at six.
SOPHIA
be + -ing for future arrangements and firm decisions, usually with a time: I’m flying to Rome on Friday. It sounds definite.
Will and won’t
DEMETRIA
I won’t be back. You’ll be fine. I’ll always remember.
SOPHIA
won’t for refusals and firm negative decisions: I won’t change my mind. will for predictions and promises.
Ways of saying goodbye
PHILO
Goodbye. Take care. See you soon. Farewell (formal, for a long time). All the best.
SOPHIA
See you (later / soon) = we’ll meet again. Take care = friendly. Farewell = old-fashioned or for a final goodbye. Bye! = informal.
Sophia’s comparison: Mizpah and Dido
PHILO
When Jacob left Laban, after twenty years of hard work, they piled up stones as a witness and said: may the Lord watch between you and me when we are apart. A goodbye with a promise.
SOPHIA
And the poet Virgil, who died not long ago in Brundisium, wrote of Aeneas leaving Queen Dido of Carthage, because the gods had told him to sail to Italy. He left at night, and she saw his ships from her tower. A goodbye without one.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| be + -ing | future arrangements, firm decisions | I’m leaving tonight. |
| won’t + infinitive | refusal, firm negative decision | I won’t be back. |
| will + infinitive | prediction, promise | You’ll be fine. |
| See you / Take care / Farewell | saying goodbye | Take care! |
| be going to | plans | I’m going to start again. |
Practice
Listen to the song for Section A, then do the rest. Press “Check my answers” at the end. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Listen: the song
Listen to the song and choose the best answer.
1. What is the singer doing?
2. Has he made up his mind?
3. Who produced many of Burke’s best records?
4. Who wrote the song?
5. Which album does it open?
6. What was Solomon Burke called?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. I’m tonight. (leave, arrangement)
8. I be back. (will not)
9. You’ll be fine. Take !
10. We’re at six. (meet)
11. See you ! (in a short time)
12. I’m to start a new life.
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “I leave tomorrow at six, it’s arranged.” (conversation)
14. “I won’t change my mind.”
15. “Take care!”
16. “I’m going to leaving.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Goodbye role-play. You are leaving your town for a new job. Tell three people (a friend, a neighbour, a teacher). Use the present continuous, won’t and different goodbyes.
Discuss. 1. Is a short goodbye better than a long one? 2. When is it right to leave? 3. How do people say goodbye in your country?
Write (100–120 words). A goodbye note to a place you are leaving (a house, a school, a team). Use be + -ing, will, won’t and two ways of saying goodbye.
Now play the gamebook: an apprentice, a cruel master, and a goodbye that needs courage.Play the gamebook →