Released: December 14, 1961

Songwriter: Smokey Robinson

Producer: Berry Gordy

[Verse 1]
What's so good about goodbye?
All it does is make-a you cry
Well, if leaving causes grieving
And depart can break you heart
Tell me what's so good about it
I could have done without it
What's so good about goodbye?

[Verse 2]
Since you said goodbye to me
All I've known is misery
Well, if everything goes wrong
And lovers say so long
Tell me what's so good about it
I could have done without it
What's so good about goodbye?

[Chorus]
How can goodbye be good to a lover who really cares?
And another thing I would like to clarify
Is how can farewell be fair?
Won't you please tell me why
You could say this is goodbye
Girl, when it makes me so sad then it's got to be bad
Tell me what's so good about it
I could have done without it
What's so good about goodbye?

Won't somebody tell me, now
How can goodbye be good to a lover who really cares?
And another thing I would like to clarify
Is how can farewell be fair?
Won't you please tell me why
You would have the nerve to say this is goodbye
Girl, when it makes me so sad then it's got to be bad
Tell me what's so good about it
I could have done without it
What's so good about goodbye?
Baby
What's so good about goodbye?

The Miracles

The Miracles (also known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972) were an American rhythm and blues vocal group.

They were formed at school in Detroit in 1955 as The Five Chimes. In 1956 they changed their name to The Matadors, adding Claudette Rogers to the line-up. They were spotted by Berry Gordy at an audition in late 1957 and in February 1958 changed their name to The Miracles. Their first release, ‘Get A Job’ b/w ‘My Mama Done Told Me’, was issued via the End label that same month. Another single on End followed, and then one on Chess and Motown, before the group finally found a home on Tamla where they had a string of hits and Smokey established himself as a key songwriter for the label throughout the 1960s.

In late 1965 Berry Gordy decided to adjust the group’s name and they were billed thereafter as Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, until Smokey left the group in July 1972 (although the final Smokey Robinson & The Miracles single was not released until November). He was replaced by Billy Griffin, with the name being reverted back to The Miracles for the new line-up.