Tonight’s song begins with a man speaking, not singing, in a very deep voice. He has asked someone to meet him, because he has something hard to say.
Learn from Songs · Unit 4: The future · B1
Kiss and Say Goodbye
The Manhattans’ famous farewell, which begins with a spoken introduction: going to for predictions from what we can see, will for promises (I’ll never forget), let’s / let’s not and shall we, have got to, and so do I / so do you, with Philo, Sophia, Marcos and Demetria.
SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
What does he have to say?
SOPHIA
That this is the last time. They love each other, but they have both made promises to other people, and they are going to keep them.
PHILO
Then it’s a sad song, but an honest one.
Before you listen: the song
New Jersey, 1976
The Manhattans were a vocal group from New Jersey, formed in the early 1960s and famous for their smooth soul harmonies. Their bass singer, Winfred “Blue” Lovett, wrote “Kiss and Say Goodbye”.
Lovett speaks the famous introduction in his deep bass voice, and then Gerald Alston sings the lead. The song came out in 1976 and went to number one in America and into the top ten in Britain, and it sold millions of copies around the world.
In the song, he says this is going to be the saddest day of his life. They have both made promises to other people, so they have got to part. He promises he will never forget her, and he asks for one last kiss before they go their separate ways.
Doing the right thing can be the hardest goodbye.
Listen: the spoken start and the song
PHILO
Listen once. Who speaks? Who sings? Why must they part?
SOPHIA
Listen to the deep voice at the beginning. Then answer Section A.
🌆 Listen to the song: “Kiss and Say Goodbye” (Winfred Lovett, 1976), by the Manhattans.Find the recording →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “Kiss and Say Goodbye”, the Manhattans.Read the lyrics →
Going to: predictions from what we can see
MARCOS
This is going to be hard. Look at her face: she’s going to cry.
SOPHIA
be going to for a prediction based on what we can see or know now: Look at those clouds. It’s going to rain.
Will for promises and feelings about the future
DEMETRIA
I’ll never forget you. I’ll always remember. I’ll miss you.
SOPHIA
will for promises and for predictions based on feelings or opinions. never and always go between will and the verb: I will never forget, not “I never will forget”.
Let’s, let’s not, shall we
PHILO
Let’s say goodbye here. Let’s not cry. Shall we walk to the corner?
SOPHIA
Let’s + infinitive for a suggestion that includes the speaker; the negative is Let’s not. Shall we…? asks if the other person agrees.
Have got to; so do I
MARCOS
We’ve got to say goodbye. I have promises to keep, and so do you.
SOPHIA
have got to = have to, a little more informal: I’ve got to go. And so + auxiliary + subject means “the same is true for…”: I love this song. So do I. Negative: I can’t stay. Neither can I.
Sophia’s comparison: Orpah’s kiss and Hector’s farewell
PHILO
When Naomi went back to Bethlehem, her two daughters-in-law walked with her. Orpah kissed her and said goodbye, and Ruth stayed. Two good women, two right choices.
SOPHIA
And before the battle, Hector said goodbye to Andromache and their baby son at the Scaean Gate. He loved them, but he had made a promise to Troy.
MARCOS
Why are the best stories always goodbyes?
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| be going to | prediction from evidence | It’s going to be hard. |
| will / will never / will always | promises, feelings | I’ll never forget you. |
| Let’s… / Let’s not… | suggestions | Let’s not cry. |
| Shall we…? | asking agreement | Shall we walk? |
| have got to | necessity (informal) | We’ve got to go. |
| so / neither + auxiliary + subject | the same is true | So do you. Neither can I. |
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. Who speaks at the start of the song?
2. Why has he asked her to meet him?
3. Why must they part?
4. What does he promise?
5. Who wrote the song?
6. Where did the song reach number one?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. Look at the sky. It’s to rain.
8. I promise I’ll forget you.
9. say goodbye here. (suggestion)
10. Let’s cry.
11. We’ve to go now.
12. I have promises to keep, and so you.
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “I will to miss you.”
14. “Let’s not cry.”
15. “I never will forget you.”
16. “We’ve got to say goodbye.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Goodbye role-play. Your best friend is moving to another country. Say goodbye at the station. Use going to, I’ll never…, Let’s…, Let’s not…, Shall we…?, So do I.
Discuss. 1. Is it ever right to end something you love? 2. Why are goodbye songs so popular? 3. What is the hardest goodbye you know from a book or film?
Write (100–120 words). A goodbye letter to a friend who is moving far away. Use will and won’t for promises, going to, let’s, and have got to.
Now play the gamebook: two friends, one ship, and the right goodbye.Play the gamebook →