goodbye – English Lyrics

• By: Kelly Clarkson
• Album: chemistry (deluxe)

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the empowering message of Kelly Clarkson's "goodbye," a song about resilience and reclaiming your life after a toxic relationship. Learn how the lyrics convey strength and finality, offering a lesson in self-worth and moving forward. This song is special because it encapsulates the journey of breaking free and finding your inner flame .

[English]

you didn't destroy me

though you tried

I am a flame that doesn't die

don't mind the bridges I've burned

that kept you by my side

I get this one life

and I won't give you mine

goodbye

goodbye

how dare you hurt me

while holding my hand

that kind of love I'll never understand

there is a difference between

what we want and we need

and I've cried an ocean

between you and me

you know I tried

I tried

goodbye

thought you were different

but you held your aim

right at my heart I'm a sucker for pain

our family portraits and designer dreams

become so worthless when

you're not what you seem

you're not what you seem

but you didn't destroy me

though you tried

you'll think about me

but in time you'll slip my mind

you're not the first one to cut

you get no prize

I get this one life

goodbye

(you were always telling me

how i made you a better man)

goodbye

(promises mean nothing when

you don't know how to listen)

goodbye

(you were always telling me

how I made you a better man)

goodbye

(promises mean nothing when

you don't know how to listen)

goodbye

(you were always telling me

how i made you a better man)

goodbye

(promises mean nothing when

you don't know how to listen)

goodbye

(you were always telling me

how I made you a better man)

goodbye

(promises mean nothing when

you don't know how to listen)

goodbye

Key Grammar Structures

• you didn't destroy me though you tried

  ➔ Concessive Clause with 'though'

  ➔ 'though' contrasts actions (destroy vs. try) showing unexpected outcomes

• I am a flame that doesn't die

  ➔ Defining Relative Clause

  ➔ 'that' introduces essential description of 'flame'

• don't mind the bridges I've burned

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ 'I've burned' indicates completed past actions with present consequences

• how dare you hurt me while holding my hand

  ➔ Interrogative Adverb + Present Participle Clause

  ➔ 'How dare' expresses indignation; 'holding' shows simultaneous action

• there is a difference between what we want and we need

  ➔ Nominal Relative Clause

  ➔ 'what' introduces noun clauses functioning as comparative objects

• I've cried an ocean between you and me

  ➔ Hyperbolic Idiom

  ➔ Exaggeration ('cried an ocean') intensifies emotional impact

• you'll think about me but in time you'll slip my mind

  ➔ Contrasting Conjunction + Time Expression

  ➔ 'but in time' juxtaposes short-term memory with eventual forgetting

• promises mean nothing when you don't know how to listen

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Condition

  ➔ 'when' establishes conditional relationship between listening and promises