Itzoe.net

Fighting the good fight since 1996
Michael Andrew Itzoe

The Hardest Thing

From the Michael Andrew album Whispers
Words and music by Michael Itzoe, Chris Mickler, Pat Mickler and Greg Pilkinton

About

Back in the summer of 1991 Pat, Chris and I got this half-baked idea to throw a backyard concert to be a farewell party of sorts for my girlfriend before she moved. And the whole idea for this concert started with this song. We decided we'd do this song, and get all our friends singing on the chorus, a la "Hey Jude" for this grand finale. This was back in May or so, but we had no song. We tried almost daily for about two months to write something, and no matter what approach we tried, we kept coming back to "Saying goodbye is the hardest thing to do." We gave up for a while until one day by accident I came up with the "Don't let me close my eyes" part, and Pat and Chris came around to help out. Greg showed up too and helped also. We never did get all our friends on it, but it didn't matter because she had already left by the time it was recorded. Megan sang on it on the condition that her name not appear in the credits. I don't think she even knew my girlfriend anyway.

Lyrics

Don't let me close my eyes tonight
For if I do I'm afraid that you'll be gone
I tried so hard to hold on but you seemed to slip away
I always tried to tell you but the words got in my way

So don't let me close my eyes tonight
For if I do I'm afraid that you'll be gone
But memories will hold me after the darkest day
And the thought of missing you the teardrops'll wash away

But loneliness, it can be so cruel
It can take you down, break all the rules
Can't you see now you're alone
Yeah, loneliness, it can take control
Drive you mad inside your soul
Can't you see you're on your own

Someday you'll discover I was always by your side
Someday you'll uncover the feelings I had inside

But saying goodbye is the hardest thing to do
And the last thing I want to say to you
Yeah, saying goodbye is the hardest thing to do
But give me your hand and I'll pull you through

Someday you'll understand it was always within you
Someday you'll understand it will always continue

But saying goodbye is the hardest thing to do
And the last thing that I want to say to you
Yeah, saying goodbye is the hardest thing to do
But give me your hand and I'll pull you through