"Goodbye, Columbus" was a 1969 movie based on the novella by Philip Roth. But today I made an interesting discovery on the web — the secret original lyrics for its theme song!
The soundtrack's liner notes contain an interesting clue. A rejected first version of the song was later included on their next album — but with its title changed to "Goodbye, Forever!"
"The lyrics are about what was going on in the movie," admits Jim Yester, the band's vocalist. "...if you listen to the lyrics, it's about the relationship between Richard Benjamin and Ali MacGraw."
Needless to say, this piqued my curiosity, so I tracked down the secret original lyrics on the web. They've been transcribed by exactly no one — but they're hidden on the band's own web page. They'd apparently used white letters on a white background — but unfortunately, even that web page has also vanished from the web.
Not just another pretty face, but more than naked.
Not just another stupid race where no one makes it.
She laid more that her reputation on the line, and tried to fake it.
He walked in and begged for less in time, and he couldn't take it
Goodbye forever, goodbye forever, goodbye.
Who paints the pictures for the golden daughter's blind eyes?
Who makes the snow fall for the aging father's white lies?
She laid more that her reputation on the line, and tried to fake it.
He walked in and begged for less in time, and couldn't take it.
Goodbye forever, goodbye forever, goodbye.
Goodbye forever. Goodbye forever. Goodbye...
Even then, there was one final mystery. The Association's web site had deleted the song's most suggestive lyric, its second-to-last line. It could be an innocent mis-transcription — or a cover-up of their harsh assessment of Ali McGraw's character.
There was only one thing to do. I tracked down my own vinyl copy of the album, and located its eleventh track. Click here to listen to the forbidden lyric!
And here it is, for the first time on the internet...
Not just another pretty bottom, but a genuine blue movie.
Not just another pretty bottom, but a genuine cheap groovy.