" What's Good About Goodbye?" The Title Says It All ! Another fine song from the 1948 movie Casbah is a sad reflection on the possible departure of a loved one. Of course, there are many fine songs that examine the unpredictable nature of a romance but Arlen and Leo Robin provide a subtle twist. Right at the beginning Robin wrote " What's good about goodbye ?/What's fair about farewell", a neat pairing of " fair" and " farewell."
Near the end of the song, there is a heartfelt plea stating " Say your mine forever, Say your mine but never say goodbye." ( The rhyming of "forever" with " never" is particularly adept.)
Edward Jablonski, Arlen's biographer described the song as " Typically Arlen in it's hopeful melancholy." As has been pointed out,, a number of Arlen's melodies begin in a minor and sober mood only to be suddenly positive at the beginning of the bridge or release. There is often a return to the original mood or tune in the final chorus but with an often different and surprising ending.
The version you will hear features Nancy LaMott, a perennial NYC cabaret favourite accompanied by a solo piano. She captures the hoped-for resolution at the end of the song. As a bonus, she then continues on the same theme with a more recent song by Allan and Marilyn Bergman, writers of romantic lyrics for Michel Legrand, Marvin Hamlisch and Johnny Mandel. "I'll Never Say Goodbye" is done with full orchestrate and is a more forceful and declarative promise that she " Will never say goodbye."
This pairing of two different songs, from two different eras, is tangible evidence that the Great American Songbook tradition of mature melodies and adult lyrics is still being honoured by contemporary writers.
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAsfxd0wgCM
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