Supertramp: Goodbye Stranger Meaning

Song Released: 1979

Goodbye Stranger Lyrics

It was an early morning yesterday
I was up before the dawn
And I really have enjoyed my stay
But I must be moving on
Like a king without a castle
Like a queen without a throne
I'm an early morning lover
And I must be moving on
Oh...

1.  

   anonymous

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   Aug 19th, 8:30pm report

   
   

   I used to be a huge Supertramp fan when this album was popular. I was a teenager and never thought about lyrics at all. Today, someone posted a picture of "Libby" (the lady on the cover), as she is today, and tagged me on FB. Realizing I hadn't listened to this album since I was a teen, I dug it out and listened from start to finish.
   
   Wow! I never realized how much Rick Davies was pissed at Roger Hodgson. The last two tracks (Casual Conversation and Child of Vision) were dead give aways. As history recalls, Roger left Supertramp after their follow up studio album. He probably would have left sooner if "Breakfast" wasn't a mammoth success.
   
   The album pans out like a guy dealing with a breakup. Goodbye Stranger was the 3rd track on the album, and it starts off with the sting of having his longest Supertramp partner wanting to leave. Goodbye Stranger was his first reaction to the news, i.e., "goodbye a**hole, it's been nice". Most of Rick's subsequent songs were about being stressed out (Gone Hollywood, Just Another Nervous Wreck). His last song, and the penultimate tune, "Casual Conversation", is about acceptance. The song ends with "Should be sad, but I really believe that I'm glad".

   
   
   
   

2.  

   anonymous

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   Mar 11th, 2016 3:26pm report

   
   

   The song is actually about being educated but not being encouraged to lexplore/learn who we are as individuals. We are socialized in an illusional facade which is school in our youth and then thrown into the world to find out own way. It speaks about soul searching and the need for it to feel complete. The life of the author is portrayed in a follow your own path, find your own worth and incorporate what knowledge you have learned through education, both instructional and social. The youth is finding out about who he is and thus "goodbye stranger" as he becomes more conscious of who he is, why he is such, what he believes, what he has experienced and realizes that those formative years were only an illusion in comparison with the immensely disillusioned adult world. The search is one each must travel alone mere interaction with others brings relief of physical needs but not spiritual as that is every humans missing piece in the search and it is much easier to look outward than in. But in the end love of self is the only way one can prevail. Calhoun,TM

   
   
   
   

3.  

   anonymous

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   Apr 10th, 2015 4:03am report

   
   

   I have wondered if this song might be about me, Maryjane,I met someone in a traveling band,we were writing songs together one night or speaking about it.If this is so we met in Gering Ne.He was playing at the Oregon Trail restaurant and Lounge.

   
   
   
   

4.  

   anonymous

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   Aug 21st, 2014 8:33pm report

   
   

   I agreed with all of the other posted meanings, but then Robin Williams died and I was listening to this song and it seems to be fitting on so many levels. That's why a great song is a great song, ever changing and always relevant.

   
   
   
   

5.  

   anonymous

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   Nov 19th, 2013 11:46pm report

   
   

   I think it is so stupid the drug references people make because of "Mary" and "Jane" ever think they simple just women's names that flow well in a song?! It's obviously about one-nighters and the R&R lifestyle, and perhaps his nonchalance to those that may judge him.,,,Oh, ha, I like your interpretation of ""Now some they do and some they don't
   And some you just can't tell
   And some they will and some they won't
   With some it's just as well" I always interpreted that as if the woman is going to go hysterical or not when he takes off...but I think you're right, some people just want to hang out, not necessarily sleep with you, but yeah, I bet most are like, "Might just as well" :-)

   
   
   
   

6.  

   Davebt54

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   Sep 2nd, 2013 9:39am report

   
   

   Well, it is undeniably clear what the meaning is of the song Goodbye Stranger. Without any doubt, it is a song about a Rock star (such as Davies)having 1 night stands with female "groupies" (girls that follow band stars. Rock stars in that time had a lot of female "groupies". So the song is referring to a Rock Star who sleeps with females while touring. The line of the song stating, "Now some they do and some they don't
   And some you just can't tell
   And some they will and some they won't
   With some it's just as well
   that says, " Is referring to females who have 1 night stands with him,those that do not, and those who are hesitant, but for all, it is just as well!
   His reference to Mary and Jane is suggesting that he actually connected to a couple of female "groupies" before moving on, and his conscience made him feel "bad" about using girls for sex, because although he might have cared for a few in the past, his "lifestyle" in Supertramp,left him no option but to move on with his concerts and touring. So he wished them well!

   
   
   
   

7.  

   anonymous

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   Jul 23rd, 2011 7:53pm report

   
   

   It was an early morning yesterday
   I was up before the dawn
   And I really have enjoyed my stay
   But I must be moving on
   
   (Translation: He's a long time stoner, and he's decided to quit smoking pot and move on with his life)
   
   Like a king without a castle
   Like a queen without a throne
   I'm an early morning lover
   And I must be moving on
   
   (Translation: Giving up weed is going to make him feel lost, like a "King without a castle", or a "Queen without a throne", since it's been a major part of his life for so long.)
   (Many heavy pot smokers get high first thing in the morning. He loves getting high early in the morning, hence...he's an early morning lover of Mary Jane or weed, but he's decided to move on with his life and give it up.)
   
   Now I believe in what you say
   is the undisputed truth
   
   (Translation: Weed makes you philosophical and he believes in it's use, even though he's decided to give it up.)
   
   But I have to have things my own way
   To keep me in my youth
   
   (Translation: I think he's trying to say that life is passing him by, so he's going to quit smoking weed so he can experience more)
   
   Like a ship without an anchor
   Like a slave without a chain
   Just the thought of those sweet ladies
   Sends a shiver through my veins
   
   (Translation: Another reference that he will feel lost without marijuana since it's been such a big part of his life. "Just the thought of those sweet ladies sends a shiver through my veins", is a reference that just thinking about marijuana plants/buds makes him have second thoughts about quitting, since only the female plant produces buds that get you high.)
   
   And I will go on shining
   Shining like brand new
   I'll never look behind me
   My troubles will be few
   
   (Translation: He's turning over a new leaf and starting anew. He won't have to worry about getting busted anymore, hence...his troubles will be few.)
   
   Goodbye stranger
   It's been nice
   Hope you find your
   Paradise
   Try to see your
   Point of view
   Hope your dreams will
   All come true
   Goodbye Mary
   Goodbye Jane
   Will we ever
   Meet again?
   
   (Translation: He's having a conversation with himself. He's enjoyed smoking weed but he's decided to move on, yet he has reservations about stopping.)
   
   Sweet devotion
   It's not for me
   Just give me motion
   And set me free
   The land and the ocean
   Far away
   Life I've chosen
   Every day
   So goodbye Mary
   Goodbye Jane
   Will we ever
   Meet again?
   
   (Translation: Same as the above verse. He's decided to quit smoking weed, but he's having some reservations about it.)
   
   Now some they do and some they don't
   And some you just can't tell
   And some they will and some they won't
   With some it's just as well
   
   (Translation: A reference about people that get high. Sometimes it's easy to tell who does, and other times you would have never guessed. The second line references people that have never gotten high....some will try it and some won't, and for those that won't, it's probably just as well.)
   
   You can laugh at my behavior
   That'll never bother me
   
   (Translation: This is a reference to society looking down on potheads.)
   
   Said the devil is my savior
   But I don't pay no heed
   
   (Translation: Weed used to be called "the devils weed", by anti-marijuana folks. Since he smokes the "devil's weed", the devil must be his savior according to these same people.)
   
   And I will go on shining
   Shining like brand new
   I'll never look behind me
   My troubles will be few
   
   Goodbye stranger
   It's been nice
   Hope you find your
   Paradise
   Try to see your
   Point of view
   Hope your dreams will
   All come true
   Goodbye Mary
   Goodbye Jane
   Will we ever
   Meet again?
   
   Sweet devotion
   It's not for me
   Just give me motion
   And set me free
   The land and the ocean
   Far away
   Life I've chosen
   Every day
   Now I'm leaving
   Got to go
   Hit the road
   I'll say it once again
   Oh, yes, I'm leaving
   Got to go
   Hit the road
   I'm sorry, I must tell you
   Goodbye Mary
   Goodbye Jane
   Will we ever
   Meet again?

   
   
   
   

8.  

   anonymous

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   Jun 1st, 2011 6:27pm report

   
   

   Nah, it's about a guy who enjoys one night stands and is attempting to have as many of them as possible (!)
   "It was early morning yesterday / I was up before the dawn / And I really have enjoyed my stay / But I must be moving on" Moving on to more women, that is. Drug addiction is hard to overcome - I think we all know that - and this chap is far too nonchalant about the whole affair for it to be drug-related. Plus,during the first "bridge" in the song,"sweet LADIES" are mentioned. Although of course this could be construed as a veiled reference to drugs (personifying Maryjane, or Mary and Jane seperately, as women), the one night stand interpretation seems more likely.
   And it's worth noting Supertramp really weren't a "druggy" band, especially the guy who wrote this song (Rick Davies). In an interview,Roger Hodgson (Davies' bandmate) stated that his friend refused to try marijuana when he offered it to him, and to this day I believe Davies has ventured no further into the world of drugs than tobacco smoking.

   
   
   
   

9.  

   mensoelrey

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   Jun 20th, 2009 6:19pm report

   
   

   I have always thought Goodbye Stranger was about drugs. The giveaway is Mary and Jane, but there is evidence in other places.
   
   He talks about having things his own way, being stubborn. People who do drugs often say things like "I can quit whenever I want". I have said so myself. They are stubborn when people want them to quit. And drugs make you feel good, sometimes young and energetic. The stubbornness and the youthfulness are found in the line "I have to have things my own way, just to keep me in my youth."
   
   Moreover, why else would it be so hard for him to say goodbye? It is not as if he is saying goodbye to his girlfriend, as he is clearly not talking to someone he is in love with. But drugs are hard to quit. Goodbye, drugs. Will I be able to stay off them? Will we ever meet again?