Never Can Say Goodbye

(Clifton Davis)

Lead Vocals : Michael Jackson
Background Vocals : The Jackson 5

Arranged by The Corporation, Gene Page & James Carmichael
Produced by Hal Davis
Recorded at the Motown Recording Studio, Los Angeles, California.

Versions

	Album Version (from "Maybe Tomorrow")	2:59
	Mono Version - (from 7" US single)	2:56
	Live Version (from "In Japan !")	-
	Osawa 3000 Remix (from "Soul Source Vol 1")	6:03
	A Cappella Version (from "Motown Original Artist Karaoke vol.4")	2:59
	Instrumental Version (from "Motown Original Artist Karaoke vol.4")	2:59
	Neptunes Remix (from The Remix Suite)	3:16
	Alternate Version (from "I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters")	2:58

jackson 5 never can say goodbye

Single details

US single released March 16, 1971
#1 R&B, #2 Pop, #33 UK.
Sales : 2 654 387 (World), 1 938 675 (USA)

First single of the "Maybe Tomorrow" album in March 1971, "Never Can Say Goodbye" is an original version by the Jackson 5. A few month later, Isaac Hayes covered this song, and so did Gloria Gaynor in 1974. They covered it with their own interpretation, the best know of them being the disco version of the great Gloria... a big hit during the Disco Years.

Clifton Davis wrote this song especially for Michael Jackson.

Premier extrait de "Maybe Tomorrow" en mars 1971, "Never Can Say Goodbye" est bel et bien une version originale des Jackson 5. Isaac Hayes, quelques mois plus tard, et Gloria Gaynor, en 1974, (entre autres) l'ont reprise selon leur propre interprétation, la plus connue restant la version disco de la grande Gloria, qui est même devenue la chansons phare des années disco.

Clifton Davis l'a spécialement écrite pour Michael Jackson.

Collection

Never Can Say Goodbye 7" Promo single, 1971 M 1179 USA	Never Can Say Goodbye / She's Good (Special Diana Sleeve) 7" single, 1971 M 1179 USA	Never Can Say Goodbye / She's Good 7" single, 1971 1 C 006 92 400 Germany	Never Can Say Goodbye /She's Good 7" single, 1971 JET 2055 Japan
Never Can Say Goodbye / She's Good 7" single, 1971 5 C 006 92 400 Holland	Never Can Say Goodbye / She's Good 7" single, 1971 TSM NP 64108 Italy	Never Can Say Goodbye / She's Good 7" single, 1971 M 5107 Spain	Never Can Say Goodbye / She's Good 7" single, 1971 7 E 006 92 400 M Norway
Never Can Say Goodbye / She's Good 7" single, 1971 TMG 778 UK	Never Can Say Goodbye / She's Good 7" single, 1971 TMS 0572 Argentina	Mama's Pearl / Never Can Say Goodbye 7" single reissue, 1973 Y499F USA

Lyrics / Paroles

Never can say goodbye
No, no, no, no, I never can say goodbye

Even though the pain and heartache
Seem to follow me wherever I go
Though I tried, tried to hide my feelings
They always seem to show
Then you try to say you’re leaving me
And I always have to say no
Tell me why is it so
That I never can say goodbye
No, no, no, no, no, I never can say goodbye

Every time I think I’ve had enough
And start heading for the door
There’s a very strange vibration
That piercing me right to the core
It says turn around you fool
You know you love her more and more
Tell me why is it so
Don’t wanna let you go

I never can say you goodbye, girl
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
Ooh ooh baby
(Don’t wanna let you go, girl)
I never can say goodbye
No, no, no, no, no, no
I never can say you goodbye, girl
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
Ooh ooh
(Don’t wanna let you go, girl)
I never can say goodbye
No, no, no, no, no, no

Never can say goodbye
No, no, no, no, I never can say goodbye

I keep thinking that our problems
Soon are all gonna work out
But there’s that same unhappy feeling
And there’s that anguish, there’s that doubt
It’s the same old dizzy hang up
Can’t do with you or without
Tell me why is it so
Don’t wanna let you go

I never can say you goodbye, girl
(Hey babe)
Ooh ooh baby
(Don’t wanna let you go, girl)
I never can say goodbye
No, no, no, no, no, no
I never can say you goodbye, girl
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
Ooh
(Hey babe)
I never can say goodbye
No, no, no, no, no, no

© 1971 Jobete Music Co., Inc. (ASCAP) / Portable Music (BMI)
All rights reserved.