The Long Goodbye (song)

"The Long Goodbye"
Single by Paul Brady
from the album Oh What a World
Released	24 April 2000
Format	CD single
Genre	Rock, folk
Length	4:22 (album version) 3:57 (single version)
Label	Rykodisc
Writer(s)	Paul Brady, Ronan Keating
Producer(s)	Alastair McMillan, Paul Brady

"The Long Goodbye" is a song written by Irish singer-songwriters Paul Brady and Ronan Keating for Brady's 2000 album Oh What a World. In 2001, it was covered by country music duo Brooks & Dunn for their album Steers & Stripes. Ronan Keating released his version in April 2003 as the last single from his album Destination (2002).

Track listing

• Promotional CD single

1. "The Long Goodbye" – 3:57

Brooks & Dunn version

"The Long Goodbye"
Single by Brooks & Dunn
from the album Steers & Stripes
B-side	"Only in America"
Released	October 22, 2001
Format	CD single
Genre	Country
Length	3:15 (single edit) 3:51 (album version)
Label	Arista Nashville 69101
Writer(s)	Paul Brady Ronan Keating
Producer(s)	Kix Brooks Ronnie Dunn Mark Wright
Brooks & Dunn singles chronology
"Only in America" (2001) "The Long Goodbye" (2001) "My Heart Is Lost to You" (2002)

"The Long Goodbye" was recorded by country music duo Brooks & Dunn for their album Steers & Stripes (2001). The single was Number One hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts, and a #39 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Background

Ronnie Dunn was initially challenged by this song. "For me, I didn't know if I could sing some of these songs, if I could get inside them. So I'd take the tracks home...Paul Brady's demo of 'The Long Good-bye was intimidating...How do you do that? I'd work in my barn, explore the songs, try things, really learn where the song wanted to go, where I wanted to go."^[1]

Critical reception

Chuck Taylor, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably saying that the song has more of a pop flavor than most of their other music. Taylor also says that Dunn's "earnest emotion exudes quiet desperation mixed with knowing acceptance."^[2]

Charts

"The Long Goodbye" debuted at number 53 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for the week of October 27, 2001.

Chart (2001-2002)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[3]	1
US Billboard Hot 100[4]	39

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)	Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[5]	17

Ronan Keating version

"The Long Goodbye"
Single by Ronan Keating
from the album Destination
Released	28 April 2003
Format	CD single
Recorded	2002
Genre	Pop
Length	4:43 (album version) 4:18 (single version)
Label	Polydor
Producer(s)	Stephen Lipson
Ronan Keating singles chronology
"We've Got Tonight" (2002) "The Long Goodbye" (2003) "Lost For Words" (2003)

"The Long Goodbye" was released as the fourth and last single from Irish singer-songwriter Ronan Keating's second studio album, Destination. The single version was produced by Stephen Lipson. The single peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. The single was released as a double a-side with "Love Won't Work (If We Don't Try)".

Track listing

UK CD1

1. "The Long Goodbye" - 4:44
2. "Love Wont Work (If We Don't Try)" - 3:31
3. "This Is It" - 4:03
4. "The Long Goodbye" (Video) - 4:40

UK CD2

1. "The Long Goodbye" - 4:44
2. "We've Got Tonight" (Feat. Jeanette) - 4:11
3. "Love Won't Work (If We Don't Try)" (Video) - 3:31

UK Cassette

1. "The Long Goodbye" - 4:44
2. "The Long Goodbye" (Bimbo Jones Vocal Mix) - 6:18

Charts

Chart (2003)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	3

References

1. Anon (2001). "Biography: Steers & Stripes" Arista Nashville.com. Retrieved September 17, 2009.
2. Billboard, October 6, 2001
3. "Brooks & Dunn – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Brooks & Dunn.
4. "Brooks & Dunn – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Brooks & Dunn.
5. "Best of 2002: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2012.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics