Say Hello, Wave Goodbye is the sixth song to feature here so far from British singer – songwriter David Gray. It also happens to be my Desert Island song from him, despite it being a ‘world’s-apart’ haunting rendition of Soft Cell‘s 1982 big hit which reached No 3 on the UK charts. Gray’s version was released on his successful 1998 album White Ladder and was the album’s fifth proper and final single and reached No 26 on the UK Singles Chart. His version, like his live performances, features additional lines at the end from the Van Morrison songs Madame George and Into the Mystic.
I can’t blame Gray milking the heartbreaking beautiful melody for all its worth with a runtime of 9 minutes which is just under four minutes longer than the original; as such, the single featured a shorter radio edit (below the studio version). To me the song just wooshes by. I often find myself setting this song on repeat after first-listen such is my infatuation with it. Gray seems to have stripped the song down to its emotional core, transforming the upbeat synthpop number into a slow-burning, piano-driven ballad. The production is intimate, with Gray’s gravelly voice carrying the weight of the song’s sorrow.
[Verse 1]
Standin’ at the door of the pink Flamingo cryin’ in the rain
It was a kind of so-so love and I’m gonna make sure it doesn’t happen again
You and I had to be the standing joke of the year
You were a run-around, a lost and found, and not for me I feel
[Chorus]
Take your hands off me, hey
I don’t belong to you, you see
And take a look in my face for the last time
I never knew you, you never knew me, say hello, goodbye
Say hello and wave goodbye
[Verse 2]
We tried to make it work, you in a cocktail skirt and me in a suit,
but it just wasn’t me
You’re used to wearing less and now your life’s a mess,
so insecure, you see
Well, I put up with all the scenes and this is one scene that’s goin’ to be
played my way
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
Under the deep red light I can see the make-up slidin’ down
Well hey, little girl, you will always make up, so take off that unbecoming frown
As for me, well, I’ll find someone who’s not goin’ cheap in the sales
A nice little housewife, who’ll give me a steady life and not keep going off the rails
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
[Instrumental Break]
[Outro]
We were born before the wind
Who are we to understand?
We were born before the wind
Say goodbye
Through the rain, hail, sleet and snow
Say goodbye
Get on the train, train, train
Say goodbye
Say goodbye
Say goodbye
Say goodbye
In the wind and the rain now, darling
Say goodbye
In the wind and the rain now, darling
Gray’s cover was recorded during the White Ladder sessions, a self-financed project that Gray undertook after years of limited commercial success. The album was produced in his London apartment, where he utilized minimal equipment, a four-track recorder, and his signature blend of folk, electronica, and alternative rock. White Ladder spent almost three full years on the UK top 100, consistently charting between May 2000 and March 2003. Its total charting time as of 2020 was 176 weeks, making it one of the longest-charting albums in UK chart history.
Gray believes that the success of White Ladder paved the way for “soul-baring” artists such as James Blunt, Ed Sheeran, George Ezra, James Bay, and Tom Walker. In an interview with the Daily Star, he said: “When I started out, a man with a guitar baring his soul wasn’t in vogue at all. Suddenly, it’s everywhere! [The album’s] success came from nowhere, and it changed how the business thought about what music should be. Since then, there have been lots of artists who’ve taken it on and done their own thing.”
References:
1. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye – Wikipedia
2. White Ladder – David Gray
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
While I’m not particularly impressed with Soft Cell’s version, I instantly love David Gray’s rendition. Stylistically and even somewhat vocally, Gray who I’m not familiar with reminds me of the great John Prine.
I felt very similarly unimpressed with the Soft Cell version. Yikes!
I’m delighted you were so taken with David Gray’s version. A friend put me onto him in the early 2000’s when we embarked on a road trip to Hanging Rock close to Melbourne. He has done some great stuff. I believe I’m unfamiliar with John Prince. Cheers.
John Prine is worthwhile checking out. While he never accomplished huge chart success, he was highly regarded by other singer-songwriters. None other than Bob Dylan called Prine one of his favorites!
You may be familiar with “Angel from Montgomery,” which Bonnie Raitt covered – one of my all-time favorite renditions by her.
The kids have just gone home, so I will check out John Prine’s music tonight. It surprises me that I never knew that Dylan said that about Prine, which makes me even more curious to hear his music.
‘Angel from Montgomery’ is a Prine song I assume which Raitt covered?
If it’s not too much trouble can you send two others you like by him? Thanks in advance.
Yep, John Prine wrote “Angel from Montgomery.” I also like “Hello In There” and “Take a Look At My Heart.” Also “Paradise.” Prine is a treasure trove, a great storyteller. I hope you find something you dig!
That’s my night of music covered then. I appreciate it, You’re a good egg Non- Christian hehe
I thought I would delve into your John Prine recommendations the night you wrote them here. But I am catching up as it were (better late than never). Below are my thoughts:
‘Angel from Montgomery’ – A little Dylan in voice, but I’m afraid the slow rambling mode and dull melody didn’t do too much for me.
‘Hello In There’ – That’s some great story telling there. I enjoyed the musicianship in this a lot.
So far I don’t see the David Gray comparison at all.
‘Take a Look At My Heart’ – Doesn’t grab me, Country by numbers.
‘Paradise’ – see above.
Although I was a little underwhelmed I appreciate you sending the songs. ‘Hello in There’ is my pick from the songs you mentioned. Cheers buddy.
🤣
I’ve not previously heard either version of this song. While I do like Soft Cell’s version well enough, I think David Gray’s cover more effectively conveys the poignant emotions expressed in the lyrics.
Thanks. And, hey, we can’t love the same music all the time!
For some reason, I’ve come to dig John Prine. He’s an artist who just draws me in, and I can’t quite explain why. Like my beloved Bonnie Raitt, Prine feels very genuine to me.
Sometimes that is how it is and I can only attest to this too well. That something which draws you is often distinct to how others perceive the same song / sound. It’s funny but when I was listening to it; I was thinking I much prefer the Celtic sound by the Irish balladeers (an Atlantic ocean away) such as the Fureys, Enya, Cranberries, Maura O’Connell, Eleanor McEvoy and The Frames.
It could be more because of cultural and nostalgic reasons our penchant for given music.
I never realized that anyone other than David Gray ever sang the song Wave Hello, Say Goodbye. After reading that it was done by Soft Cell, I searched it out and played the video. UGH! No good! The David Gray rendition is moving and has you visualizing the event in the song. No so with Soft Cell. A very moving version by David Gray.
Until researching the article, I too didn’t realise it was a Cover. I agree the original is definitely not good. I could listen to Gray’s version on repeat all day.