What are the lyrics to this wacky song?

May 10, 2006 8:37 PM

Can anyone make out the complete lyrics to "Goodbye, My Friend" (sample here), the catchy but hard-to-decipher theme song from the 1974 Italian movie "Street Law," starring Franco Nero?
posted by johngoren to media & arts (9 comments total)

Clenching the water there is no grip
Always knew there would be an end to this trip
Take in the ice he feels no pain
All is lost only to his gain

Forever is too long to wait
But you had to take that great escape (x2)

Tries to fly only to find he will hit the ground
With one motion it comes to an end so goodbye, my friend (x2)

Remember the days we stared at the sky
At the clouds and ships that passed us by
The monkey bars and the jungle gym
Seemed too high too high for him

Forever is too long to wait
But you had to take that great escape (x2)

Tries to fly only to find he will hit the ground
With one motion it comes to an end so goodbye, my friend (x2)
posted by ab3 at 9:51 PM on May 10, 2006

Did you listen to the sample? Because those lyrics have absolutely no relation to it.
posted by languagehat at 6:24 AM on May 11, 2006

My best guess:

Goodbye my friend
You won't be anymore with me
I'm beside myself with pain that I can't fight
But the road I have to run is so long

Goodbye my friend
I'm gonna bring your love with me
Our way now splits in two, just longing for an end
But the road I have to run is so long
Got no time to hang around
Now so long

posted by Danelope at 7:18 AM on May 11, 2006 [1 favorite]

I have this song on my computer at home, which I can try to transcribe if I don't see any replies before this evening. I agree that it's epic and bizarre at the same time.
posted by myopicman at 7:53 AM on May 11, 2006

Nicely transcribed, Danelope, I think you may be right...the chorus lyrics weren't available as a sample, but they're even harder for me to hear. It sounds like one of the two singers has clearer English.
posted by Kirklander at 2:48 PM on May 11, 2006

Danelope nails the lyrics from the sample, which ends right as the song starts blowing up. I've listened to the whole song (4:05) about six times straight now. For those of you curious, the song's available on the Beretta 70 compilation from Crippled Dick Hot Wax.

Chorus (or freakout section):

What to say with cause tonight (or "Want to sleep with God tonight")
while the memories are ripe
What to say when I see you?
and you tell me anger/anguish soon?

What to say when I'm alone?
I've been told that you're just blue.
What to say you're alone?
Are we all just like a stone?

I gotta get my mind made baby (right way made?)
or just pretend it's what I pay (war to pay)
or, or, or I belong!!!!

(calm section again:)

Goodbye my friend
It's sadness coming down on me
The things you did, the words you said
were not for me.
And the road that I have to run (is so long)
No time to hang around (now so long)

(freakout returns, mostly same lyrics, though transcribing screams isn't my forte.)
posted by myopicman at 7:35 PM on May 11, 2006

If either you gents want to spam me an MP3 of the full track, I can take a shot at refining myopicman's transcription. E-mail's in my profile.

(The first line of the chorus above, gleaned from the second sample, is "What to say when you come tonight?")
posted by Danelope at 8:51 PM on May 11, 2006

I uploaded the MP3 and sent the location to Danelope. If anyone else wants a crack, holler (email in profile).
posted by myopicman at 10:25 PM on May 11, 2006

Thanks for uploading the track, myopicman. Here's what I've been able to divine from the better quality audio:

Goodbye my friend
You won't be anymore with me
I feel inside myself a pain
That I can't fight
But the road I have to run
Is so long

Goodbye my friend
I'm gonna bring your love with me
Our way now splits in two
Just longing for an end
But the road I have to run (is so long)
Got no time to hang around (now so long)

What to say when he comes tonight
When the memories are bright?
What to say when I see you
And you tell me it was true?

What to say when I'm alone
I can (go over?) the chance we've blown
What to say when we're all alone
And we're all just like a stone

I'm gonna take my life away
Or just pretend it was a play
Or, or, or I belong

Goodbye my friend
There's silence coming down on me
The things you did, the words you said
Were not for me
And the road that I have to run (is so long)
Have no time to hang around (now so long)

What to say when he comes tonight
When the memories are bright?
What to say when I see you
And you tell me it was true?

What to say when I'm alone
And with all the chances we've blown
What to say when we're all alone
And we're all just like a stone

I'm gonna take my life away
Or just pretend it was a play
All, all, all along

As noted, there are minor changes between the two instances of the chorus. I'm not at all certain about the "blown" or "stone" lines, but that caliber of rhyming seems on par for European 70s film anthems.

The song really grows on you after small portions of it are played on repeat several hundred times!
posted by Danelope at 11:58 PM on May 11, 2006