Peak
65
Weeks
11
Score
533
Chart Year
1982
"Goodbye To You" was written by Scandal guitarist Zack Smith. It's a breakup song where Patty Smyth sings about moving on from a relationship. Smith wrote most of Scandal's songs, while Smyth fronted the group, moving on to success as a solo artist and eventually marrying tennis star John McEnroe. >> This was Scandal's debut single, released in 1982 soon after they formed in New York City. Their biggest hit came in 1984 when "The Warrior" went to #7. The band broke up a year later; in 2004 they got back together for VH1's Bands Reunited. Patty Smyth credits MTV for this song's success. The song didn't get much radio airplay, but the video got a lot of spins on the network. The clip was a typical, low budget, performance video, but MTV was overloaded with Europop and male artists, so female-fronted rock bands like Blondie, Pretenders and Scandal were welcomed on the network. John McEnroe made mention of this song during the 2024 French Open final when Iga Swiatek was dismantling her oponent, Jasmine Paolini. "If you're going to quote great female rock stars from the '80s, you can throw one down for my wife, Patty Smyth: 'Goodbye To You,'" he said. "This is turning into a rout."
Those times I waited for you seem so long ago I wanted you far too much to ever let you go You know I never got by, "I feel it too" And I guess I never could stand to lose It's such a pity to say Goodbye to you Goodbye to you Could I have loved someone like the one I see in you I remember the good times baby now, and the bad times too These last few weeks of holdin' on The days are dull, the nights are long Guess it's better to say Goodbye to you Goodbye to you Goodbye to you Goodbye to you 'Cause baby it's over now No need to talk about it It's not the same My love for you's just not the same And my heart, and my heart And my heart can't stand the strain And my love, and my love And my love won't stand the pain And my heart, and my heart And my heart can't stand the strain And my love, and my love And my love Goodbye to you Goodbye to you Goodbye to you Goodbye to you Now, could I have loved someone like the one I see in you Yeah, I remember the good times baby now, and the bad times too These last few weeks of holdin' on The days are dull, the nights are long Guess it's better to say Goodbye to you Goodbye to you Goodbye to you Goodbye to you Goodbye baby So long, darlin' Goodbye to you
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nov 13, 1982 | 86 | 40 |
| 2 | Nov 20, 1982 | 77 | 49 |
| 3 | Nov 27, 1982 | 71 | 55 |
| 4 | Dec 4, 1982 | 65 | 61 |
| 5 | Dec 11, 1982 | 65 | 61 |
| 6 | Dec 18, 1982 | 87 | 39 |
| 7 | Dec 25, 1982 | 85 | 41 |
| 8 | Jan 1, 1983 | 85 | 41 |
| 9 | Jan 8, 1983 | 85 | 41 |
| 10 | Jan 15, 1983 | 85 | 41 |
| 11 | Jan 22, 1983 | 98 | 28 |