Written late at night in a truly disappointing apartment on Tolland Street in East Hartford, Connecticut DON'T GO is a musical expression of a darkly romantic movie that was playing in my head. There is something timeless about the pain of heartbreak and the immature desire to seek retaliation in a vain attempt to soothe the damaged soul. The idea of the song’s main character calling the love of his life late one night, only to have a strange, sleepy male voice answer, captured my imagination. Patrick’s driving drum beat and Tom’s intricate guitar flourishes made the whole thing work for me. Yet, maybe the best part, especially in live performance, was taking the volume and the frenzy of the song down for the middle break. That dynamic tension really worked for me.
Ironically, I always hated the lyrics I wrote for that section. It’s the character’s anger speaking, but I was always embarrassed that people would misconstrue the words to think I was actually that arrogant. It was Michael and Tom who convinced me not to re-write them, for which I am forever thankful. It works as it was, as it is. With our three voices working together, the four pieces of The Broken Hearts kicking into high gear as we come out of that section, I can’t listen to DON'T GO without flashing back to so many great nights at Mad Murphy’s in Hartford, The Grotto in New Haven, The Agora Ballroom on a cold winter night, and Folk City in Manhattan.
They were the best of times, they were the worst of times. In the time of The Broken Hearts much revelry was had and many great friendships were made. Oh, how I would love to step back into my 25-year-old shoes, stomp out onto the stage, and Play These Songs Again with my great brothers in music, Michael, Tom, and Patrick.
- Jamie Beckett -
lyrics
DON'T GO
(Jamie Beckett)
Tell me what have you done since I went away
You said you’d go, but you wanted to stay
Who was the man with the rough voice
Who answered your telephone
When I called you up and you weren’t alone
You said you’d wait
You didn’t wait
And I believed in you for so long
It’s the same
Every day
Now you haunt my memories and my thoughts
You were the woman for me
More than anyone I’ve ever known
While I was holding you close
You were letting me go
It’s happened before
It may happen again
No you never can tell
It could happen to you
And it probably will
You said you’d wait
You didn’t wait
And I believed in you for so long
It’s the same
Every day
Now you haunt my memories and my thoughts
Women all over the world you listen
You don’t know what you might be missing
Don’t go
Women all over the world you listen
You don’t know what you might be missing
Don’t go
Women all over the world you listen
You don’t know what you might be missing
credits
from Want One?,
released August 18, 1985
Patrick Yourell - background vocals
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