The Jackson 5

Released: August 26, 1972

Songwriter: Clifton Davis

Producer: Hal Davis

[Verse 1: Michael Jackson & (The Jacksons)]
Never can say goodbye
No, no, no, no, I
Never can say goodbye
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
Even though the pain and heartaches seem to follow me wherever I go
Though I tried and tried to hide my feelings, they always seem to show
Then you try to say you're leaving me and I always have to say no
Tell me why (Tell me why) is it so (Is it so)
That I

[Verse 2: Michael Jackson & (The Jacksons)]
Never can say goodbye
No, no, no, no, I
Never can say goodbye
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
Every time I think I’ve had enough and start heading for the door
There's a very strange vibration piercing me right to the core
It says, "Turn around you fool
You know you love her more and more"
Tell me why (Tell me why) is it so (Is it so)
Don't wanna let you go

[Chorus: Michael Jackson & (The Jacksons)]
I never can say goodbye, girl
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
Yeah
(Don’t wanna let you go, girl)
I never can say goodbye
(No no no, no no no, no no no)
I got to find you, I never can say goodbye, girl
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
No
(Don't wanna let you go, girl)
I never can say goodbye
(No no no, no no no, no no no)

[Verse 3: Michael Jackson & (The Jacksons)]
Never can say goodbye
No, no, no, no, I
Never can say goodbye
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
I keep thinkin' that our problems soon are all gonna work out
But there's that same unhappy feelin'
There's that anguish, there's that doubt
It's that same old dizzy hang-up
Can’t do with you or without
Tell me why (Tell me why) is it so (Is it so)
Don’t wanna let you go

[Chorus: Michael Jackson & (The Jacksons)]
I never can say goodbye, girl
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
No
(Hey, baby)
I never can say goodbye
(No no no, no no no, no no no)
I got to find you, I never can say goodbye, girl
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
No
(Hey, baby)
I never can say goodbye
(No no no, no no no, no no no)
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
Yeah
(Hey, baby)
I never can say goodbye
(No no no, no no no, no no no)
I got to find you, I don't know, oh yeah
(Never can say goodbye, girl)
I never could say
(Hey, baby)
(No no no, no no no, no no no)

[Outro: Michael Jackson & Jermaine Jackson]
Never could say goodbye
Say goodbye
Singing goodbye
Singing goodbye
We’re singing goodbye
I never can say goodbye, girl
I'm never gonna say goodbye, baby
I got to find you, I never can say goodbye, girl
I'm never gonna say goodbye, baby
Oh, oh, I never can say goodbye
I'm never gonna say goodbye, baby
I got to find you, I never can say goodbye, girl, oh
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
I never can say goodbye, girl
I’m never gonna say goodbye, baby
I got to find you, I never can say goodbye, yeah
I'm never gonna say goodbye, baby
Hey, I never can say goodbye, girl
I'm never gonna say goodbye, baby
I got to find you, I never can say goodbye, yeah, oh
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
I never can say goodbye, girl
I'm never gonna say goodbye, baby
I got to find you, I never can say goodbye, yeah
I'm never gonna say goodbye
I never can say goodbye, girl
I'm never gonna say goodbye, yeah
I got to find you, never can say goodbye, yeah, oh
A-na-na, na-na, na-na
Na-na, na-na, ooh

The Jackson 5 were originally formed in 1963 under the name, The Jackson Brothers. The founding members were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon. Michael would join the group as the lead singer a year later, a move which pushed Jermaine to sing the backing vocals and play the lead guitar.

After participating in a series of talent shows, they entered the professional music scene in 1967, signing with Steeltown Records and releasing ten singles. In 1969, they left Steeltown Records in order to sign with Motown.

In 1975, most of the Jacksons had opted out of recording any more music for Motown, expressing desires to have creative control over their songs, as well as royalties. Learning that they were earning only 2.8% of royalties from Motown, Joe Jackson, the father and manager of the group, began to negotiate a lucrative contract with Epic records, which offered a royalty rate of 20% per record. The deal was completed in June 1975. As Motown owned the name The Jackson 5, the group simply renamed themselves The Jacksons.

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