This song is a big goodbye to a lot of things, but especially the memories conjured by places, objects… even weather. After a while it turns into baggage you get tired of rummaging through. In that sense, it's also a big hello to new terrain—anything, anywhere, anyone, just as long as it's new.
The recording of this was strange from my perspective. The weekend of the final tracking session, one of my cats—a 21-year-old Korat named Sergeant Peepers, a.k.a. the sweetest cat in the world—got very sick, and I ended up having to put him down. It was tough to say goodbye, but it was definitely time for the old guy.
Fortunately, I'd recorded an acoustic guitar track and scratch track for this song before the guys hit town from Toronto that weekend. I went off to bury my friend and they headed into the studio to work on the song. By the time I turned up to Ultrasuede, they'd mostly completed tracking. I couldn't believe how great it sounded, especially all the intricate drum and percussion work Andrew [McMullen] had tracked, plus Calvin's fantastic rhythm and lead parts.
Trying to turn the emotion from the day into something positive, I ended up singing the final vocal that day as well. I think it's a fitting end to the album—the last word is literally "goodbye."
lyrics
WHATEVER'S LEFT
Whatever's left, I can't see it
I fell in love in your good season
Now the color's gone and the heat went with it
And winter left me stranded with your ghost
Far from home and the snow is falling
Down and down we hit the bottom
Living with the dear departed
You and I should have never started
But for a while you saved me from myself
And I am truly sorry
If I caused you any pain
I tried to see things through your eyes
We shared the same view for a while
But I could never divine your mood
Or penetrate your smile
And I still see you in my dreams
You shape the way I treat my love
Nothing's all good or bad
But we were mostly bad
And it's time I said goodbye
'Cause you never said goodbye
It's finally time to leave this city
Say goodbye to the loss and pity
Anyone who ever lived
To pay the cost when losing's all there was
And I am truly sorry
To leave you with your pain
And I still see you in my dreams
You shape the way I treat my love
Nothing's all good or bad
But we were mostly bad
And it's time I said goodbye
credits
from Paint No Devils,
released December 9, 2012
Robert Cherry: voice, guitar
Andrew McMullen: drums, percussion
Calvin Brown: guitar, Rhodes piano
Paul Lahey: vocals
John Curley: electric bass
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