Goodbye My Lover

Not to be confused with Goodbye My Lover Goodbye.

For the Korean television series, see Goodbye My Love (TV series).

"Goodbye My Lover" is a song by English singer-songwriter James Blunt, written by Blunt and British songwriter Sacha Skarbek, for Blunt's debut album, Back to Bedlam (2004). The song was produced by Tom Rothrock and Jimmy Hogarth and recorded in the home of actress Carrie Fisher. The single received a positive reception from music critics.

"Goodbye My Lover"
Single by James Blunt
from the album Back to Bedlam
Released	November 2005 (2005-11)
Length	4:18
Label	Atlantic Custard
Songwriter(s)	James Blunt, Sacha Skarbek
Producer(s)	Tom Rothrock
James Blunt singles chronology
"High" (2005) "Goodbye My Lover" (2005) "Wisemen" (2006)

"Goodbye My Lover" was released as the fourth single in November 2005 and reached the top ten in the United Kingdom, where it became Blunt's second top ten single. It also reached the top ten in Sweden, Belgium, Australia and France. In the United States, "Goodbye My Lover" reached number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 due to digital downloads, even though the single was not yet released in the US. The song was formally released in the United States on 7 November 2006.

Recording

While in Los Angeles, Blunt lodged with Carrie Fisher, whom he had met through the family of a former girlfriend. Fisher was very supportive of Blunt's aspirations, and provided the use of a bathroom in her home that featured a piano for him to record "Goodbye My Lover".^[1] Blunt later said, "Everyone sings in the shower and everyone in Los Angeles seems to have a piano in the bathroom."^[1]

Release

The single was released on three physical formats. CD1 includes an exclusive non-album recording, "Close Your Eyes", which was first written during Blunt's army days. CD2 includes a further non-album recording, "Where Is My Mind" performed live in Manchester, plus the video for "Goodbye My Lover" and behind-the-scenes "Making-Of" footage. The 7-inch vinyl includes the live version of "Where Is My Mind".^[2]

Music video

"Goodbye My Lover" featured a music video that was directed by Sam Brown and was filmed on 28 October 2005 in Los Angeles. In the video Blunt is featured sitting in a darkened room by himself, reflecting on a past relationship. In what appears to be the same room, but in daylight, a young man and woman, the former lovers, share an intimate moment. The video was shot in the former home of Randolph Scott.^[3] The young woman in the video was played by Mischa Barton. The young man in the video was played by Matt Dallas.

Chart performance

In December 2005, "Goodbye My Lover" was released in the United Kingdom. The song became Blunt's second top ten single when it peaked at number nine on the singles chart, and spent a total of 14 weeks in the top 75. Outside of the UK, the song was also successful. It reached number one in Sweden and became Blunt's second number one on the singles chart.

"Goodbye My Lover" was released in Australia in December 2005 and debuted at number eight before ascending the chart to number three, remaining inside the top ten for 16 weeks, a feat rarely reached in recent years.

Due to the favourable reception of Blunt's previous single "You're Beautiful", "Goodbye My Lover" debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart at number 100, even though it had not been released as a single in the U.S. The single appeared on the chart backed solely on the strength of digital sales after a re-run of an episode of Saturday Night Live that featured Blunt performing the song. It later re-entered the Billboard Hot 100, again due to digital downloads, as a result of Blunt's performance of the song on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Track listings

CD1

1. "Goodbye My Lover" – 4:18
2. "Close Your Eyes" – 3:06

CD2

1. "Goodbye My Lover" – 4:18
2. "Where Is My Mind" (live in Manchester) – 4:55
3. "Goodbye My Lover" (the making of the video) – 3:00
4. "Goodbye My Lover" (video) – 4:19

7-inch vinyl

1. "Goodbye My Lover" – 4:18
2. "Where Is My Mind" (live in Manchester) – 4:55

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2005–2007) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[4] 3 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] 36 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[7] 2 Canada AC (Billboard)[8] 27 Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[9] 41 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[10] 4 Denmark (Tracklisten)[11] 9 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] 8 France (SNEP)[13] 6 Germany (GfK)[14] 28 Greece (IFPI)[15] 9 Ireland (IRMA)[16] 13 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17] 4 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[19] 19 Norway (VG-lista)[20] 6 Scotland (OCC)[21] 11 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[22] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] 19 UK Singles (OCC)[24] 9 US Billboard Hot 100[25] 66 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[26] 18 US Pop 100 (Billboard)[27] 53

Year-end charts Chart (2006) Position Australia (ARIA)[28] 15 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[29] 24 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[30] 26 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[31] 29 France (SNEP)[32] 40 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[33] 43 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[34] 74 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[35] 47 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 80 UK Singles (OCC)[37] 94

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[38]	Platinum	70,000^
Belgium (BEA)[39]	Gold	25,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[40]	Platinum	8,000^
Germany (BVMI)[41]	Gold	300,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[42] sales since 2009	Platinum	100,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[43]	Gold	30,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[44]	Gold	10,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[45]	Gold	20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[46]	Platinum	600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[47]	Gold	500,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Worldwide	November 2005	—	Atlantic Custard	[citation needed]
Australia	12 December 2005	CD		[48]
United Kingdom	19 December 2005	7-inch vinyl CD		[49]
United States	21 August 2006	Hot adult contemporary radio		[50]
	20 November 2006	Contemporary hit radio		[51]

References

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2. Images for James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover
3. Making of James Blunt's "Goodbye My Lover" Music Video, Goodbye My Lover [Single] Enhanced CD, 2005.
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40. "Guld Og Platin November/December/Januar". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
41. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (James Blunt; 'Goodbye My Lover')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
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51. "FMQB: CHR". FMQB. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2022.