This week is all about Goodbyes. Our host of Song Lyric Sunday, Jim Adams, has given us the following prompts – Arrivederci, Bon-voyage, Ciao, Farewell, Goodbye, Hasta la vista, Sayonara and Shalom. Seeing as most songs are about love and heartbreak there are plenty of Goodbye songs out there. I went for a song about break up rather than offering one with Goodbye in the title. It is an old song by Hall of Rock and Roll Famer, Dave Mason, called We Just Disagree. He was, and still is, such a great artist and this song is a favorite of mine. Just for Fun, I included another “Goodbye” video at the bottom. I hope you enjoy both.
THE ARTIST
Dave Mason left Traffic in 1969 to pursue a solo career in the U.S. Dave has penned over 100 songs, has 3 gold albums: Alone Together, Dave Mason, Mariposa De Oro, and platinum album Let It Flow, which contained the top-ten single “We Just Disagree”.
In addition to cranking out hits, Dave has performed on, or contributed to, a number of famous albums, including: The Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet, George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, Paul McCartney and Wings’ Venus and Mars, and Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland. Mason is featured playing acoustic guitar in “All Along the Watchtower” on Electric Ladyland, a favorite in Dave’s live shows!
Fans and critics alike hail Dave as one of the most talented songwriters and guitarists in the world – which is why he is still performing over 100 shows a year to sold-out crowds.
Mason has been playing guitar most of his life. By 15, Dave had founded two bands: The Deep Feeling, and The Hellions. At 18, the Worcester, England native teamed up with Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, and Chris Wood to form the legendary band traffic. At 19, Mason penned the song “Feelin’ Alright”. The rock anthem, first recorded by traffic and then covered by dozens of other artists (including Joe Cocker), cemented both Dave’s and Traffic’s legacy, and had a profound influence over rock music that continues today. Courtesy of Dave Mason, Official Site
This song was written by Jim Krueger, a guitarist from Manitowoc, Wisconsin who joined Dave Mason’s band in 1974. Affectionately and ironically known as “bruiser” (he was actually very soft-spoken), Krueger became Mason’s trusted musical partner at a time when he sorely needed the help. Mason, a former member of the band Traffic, signed a deal with Columbia Records in 1973 that demanded two albums a year from him. It was Clive Davis who signed Mason, but Davis departed the label soon after, leaving Mason in the lurch.
THE SONG
The song is about a couple who have parted ways, possibly via divorce, and have agreed to set aside their differences and stop assigning blame. The song could describe any number of scenarios where a relationship goes sour; Mason connected with the song based on his numerous conflicts with band members, love interests and record labels.
In our interview with Mason, he explained: “I did it because I thought it was a great song. An unusual chord arrangement behind it. And it stood up – it was a song that when he sang it to me, it was like, ‘Yeah, that’s the song.’ Just him and a guitar, which is usually how I judge whether I’m going to do something. If it holds up like that I’ll put the rest of the icing on it.
I was going to cut it anyway, but I frankly thought it was too good a song to be a hit. Sounds strange. And it wasn’t a huge hit, it got to #12. But it’s been around. It’s a great song. It’s a timeless song.”
Mason included the song on his 1977 album Let It Flow, but it wasn’t chosen as thefirst single: that honor went to “So High (Rock Me Baby And Roll Me Away),” which peaked at #89. “We Just Disagree” was the second single, and it became Mason’s biggest hit as a solo artist.
Jim Krueger, who wrote the song, also played the 12-string guitar and sang the harmony vocal. Krueger, who died of pancreatitis in 1993 at age 43, included this song on his only solo album, the 1978 release Sweet Salvation.
This stripped-down song stood out in 1977 amid the disco offerings that proliferated on the radio. It held up well when Mason and Krueger set out on an acoustic tour in 1981, making them one of the first “unplugged” acts. The song was a staple of their setlist, and one Mason continued to play live after Krueger’s death.
The Country singer Billy Dean covered this song in 1994, taking it to #9 on the Country chart.
Courtesy of Songfacts
LYRICS Been away, haven't seen you in a while How've you been, have you changed your style? And do you think that we've grown up differently? Don't seem the same, seems you've lost your feel for me So let's leave it alone 'cause we can't see eye to eye There ain't no good guy, there ain't no bad guy There's only you and me and we just disagree Ooh ooh ooh, oh oh oh I'm goin' back to a place that's far away, how 'bout you? Have you got a place to stay? Why should I care when I'm just trying to get along We were friends and now it's the end of our love song So let's leave it alone 'cause we can't see eye to eye There ain't no good guy, there ain't no bad guy There's only you and me and we just disagree Ooh ooh ooh, oh oh oh So let's leave it alone 'cause we can't see eye to eye There ain't no good guy, there ain't no bad guy There's only you and me and we just disagree Writer/s: JIM KRUEGER, JIM J KRUEGER Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind
Just For Fun
In addition I have included a really funny video of the song Na, Na, Na, Na, Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye. The original song was going to be my first choice today, until I found Jimmy Kimmel’s hilarious version made for when Trump had to get out of the White House. I hope you’ll enjoy that too!
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