„Kiss and Say Goodbye” – The Manhattans

„Kiss and Say Goodbye” is a song recorded by the American R&B vocal group The Manhattans. The song was written by Manhattans member Winfred „Blue” Lovett. The original demo of the song was recorded with The Manhattans backing band, „Little Harlem.” After hearing a tape of the recording, producer/arranger Bobby Martin decided to re-record the song with MFSB at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. Released as a single, in both a version that included a mid-song rap spoken part (aimed toward the R&B market) and one that omitted it (aimed toward the pop market), over a year later, the song became a world-wide hit for the group, spending two weeks at number one on the U.S. Pop and U.S. R&B charts. and reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart in the summer of 1976. In the U.S., the song was the 400th #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart. It also became just the second single to earn double-platinum certification status (Johnnie Taylor‘s „Disco Lady” was the first a few months earlier). Hong Kong Pop Diva Anita Mui‘s rendition of this song, „Cherish When We Meet Again” (珍惜再會時), was the final song she performed before her death from Cervical Cancer in December 2003.

Manhattans – Kiss And Say Goodbye Lyrics
Album: Best Of-Kiss & 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 goodbye

I had to meet you here today
There’s just so many things to say
Please don’t stop me ‘til I’m through
This is something I hate to do
We’ve been meeting here so long
I guess what we’ve done, oh was wrong
Please darlin’, don’t you cry
Let’s just kiss and say goodbye (Goodbye!)

Many 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 (Goodbye!)

Hmmmm
(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 hankerchief and 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