I had heard of Mary Chapin Carpenter’s name before, but I didn’t recall her music until my friend Christian in New York mentioned today’s featured song – Goodbye Again in his blog. I found it such a haunting and heartfelt piece, distilling the ache of loneliness and the bittersweet pull of memory. It’s like a woman looking back, measuring her twilight years against the shadow of a love that still lingers. I hope to seek out more of her work in the future. So over to Christian:
Mary Chapin Carpenter, who was born in Princeton, N.J., is a country and folk singer-songwriter. If you don’t know Carpenter but are a frequent Sunday Six traveler, her name may still sound familiar since we first visited her during another time travel excursion in February this year. Inspired by her mother Mary Bowie Robertson, who was a folk singer and guitarist, and her guitar-playing seventh-grade science teacher (gotta love that!), Carpenter picked up the ukulele and classical guitar and began writing songs during her childhood. As a 16-year-old, she started performing at folk venues in Washington, D.C., after her family had relocated there. In 1987, Carpenter got a deal with Columbia Records and released her debut album Hometown Girl later that year. Goodbye Again, penned by Carpenter, is from her June 1989 sophomore release State of the Heart. Just last week, her latest album Personal History dropped, which brought Carpenter back on my radar. I’m glad it did!
– The Sunday 6 – Christian’s Music Musings 15/6/2025
[Verse 1]
Every night she sleeps alone
And by her bed she puts the phone
And every morning after that
She takes the phone and puts it back
He’s got a wife back home
And three kids up and grown
But these are things that go unsaid
He might call her from the road just in time
To say ‘Hello’ and ‘Goodbye’ again
[Verse 2]
She keeps his picture tucked away
She think she might have it framed one day
And maybe he’ll come see it there
Hanging by her rocking chair
In a corner of her room, on a Sunday afternoon
When all the world is dull and gray
She might close her eyes and sit, rocking gently for a bit
‘Til all the bad thoughts go away
[Verse 3]
Back when children played their games
London Bridge and Jesse James
She captured flags, she bounced the ball
And every time she beat them all
And now she comes home to a cat
In a three room walk up flat
And plays a game of solitaire
Well she made a fist last night
And she broke the hallway light
And the pieces scattered everywhere
[Verse 4]
You see he’s got a wife back home
And three kids up and grown
But these are things that go unsaid
He might call her from the road just in time
To say ‘Hello’ and ‘Goodbye’ again
References:
1. Mary Chapin Carpenter – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Thanks for the shout-out, Matt, and glad you dig that song as well. I only came across Mary Jane Carpenter myself last year when I saw a clip of her great rendition of “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere,” which she performed together with Rosanne Cash and Shawn Colvin at Bobfest in 1992. I always loved that song and think these three ladies did a beautiful job with it!
You’re welcome Christian. My collection is peppered with songs yet to write which I found thanks to your blog.
I enjoyed listening to “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere,”. You are right… the ladies which included Mary Jane did a sweet job on it. Nice find.
she’s a treasure