Rick Astley

Released: November 13, 1987

Songwriter: Mike Stock Matt Aitken Pete Waterman

Producer: Mike Stock Pete Waterman Matt Aitken

Don't say goodbye, girl (goodbye, girl)
Don't make me cry, girl (cry, girl)
'Cos I love you (love you)

Used to have such fun
Used to have good times
But now those days are gone
Used to have it all
Used to get on fine
But things just went wrong

Used to be in love
Thought we had it made
But everything has changed
We just grew apart
No one is to blame

Woh, time has made us strangers
Maybe we can't go on
But if love can take the changes

Don't say goodbye, girl
Goodbye, girl
Don't throw it all away
'Cos I love you
Yes I do (yes I do)
Don't make me cry, girl
You're my girl
Don't say goodbye to me
'Cos I love you
Yes I do (yes I do)

We could go along
Saying things were fine
But we're just fooling ourselves
Maybe we should
Talk it out right now
And put things on the line

Everyone in love
Goes through times like these
It's just part of the game
I remember
I used to call your name

Woh, things don't have to be this way
Love is the answer now
Maybe we could start again today

Don't say goodbye, girl
Goodbye, girl
Don't throw it all away
'Cos I love you
Yes I do (yes I do)
Don't make me cry, girl
You're my girl
Don't say goodbye to me
'Cos I love you
Yes I do (yes I do)

Don't say goodbye, girl
Goodbye, girl
Don't say goodbye, girl
Goodbye, girl
Don't say goodbye, girl
Goodbye, girl
Don't say goodbye, girl
Goodbye, girl

Woh, time has made us strangers
Maybe we can't go on
But if love can take the changes

Don't say goodbye, girl
Goodbye, girl
Don't throw it all away
'Cos I love you
Yes I do (yes I do)
Don't make me cry, girl
'Cos you're my girl"
I couldn't live without you, no
'Cos I love you
Yes I do (yes I do)

Don't say goodbye, girl
Goodbye, girl
I want to spend my life with you
'Cos I love you
Yes I do (yes I do)
Don't make me cry, girl
You're my girl
Don't say goodbye to me
'Cos I love you
Yes I do (yes I do)

Richard Paul Astley is a British entertainer, most known for his 1987 sensation “Never Gonna Give You Up” which was the subject of rick-rolling. He recieved a Brit Award for Best Single in 1988 for his hit and a “Best Act Ever” Award at the 2008 MTV EMAs upon its re-emergence into popularity.

Born in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire on February 6, 1966, Astley’s first taste of music came at the age of 10 and he became known as a drummer throughout school before dropping out at age 16. He played for a local live act entitled “FBI” (with future Conservative Party politician David Morris as guitarist) that gained popularity around London. Astley, a huge admirer of Nat King Cole soon moved to lead vocalist by the time the group garnered the interest of Pete Waterman, a record executive and 1/3 of the Scott-Aitken-Waterman production trio. Waterman hired a 19 year-old Astley as a gofer (assistant) and Morris as a songwriter at his PWL (Pete Waterman, Limited) Studios. He used this time to pull Astley out of his ‘shyness’ and secured them both a contract with RCA Records.

“When You Gonna” with fellow PWL protégé Lisa Carter was his debut release, but it found little success and received no promotion; it was Lisa’s only official output. His first solo release, “Never Gonna Give You Up”, was dropped on July 28, 1987, and turned Astley into an international star. It topped 24 different charts and moved nearly 2 Million copies. Astley’s debut album Whenever You Need Somebody found similar success – it collected Gold or Platinum certifications in 10 different regions, including Platinum 4x in the United Kingdom.

more tracks from the album

Whenever You Need Somebody

From the album

Whenever You Need Somebody (1987)

Rick Astley popular songs

Don’t Say GoodbyeRick Astley

Rick Astley

Whenever You Need Somebody