The surf was easy on the day I came to stay
On this quiet island in the bay
I remember a line of women all in white
The laughter and the steel bands at night
Now the Americans are gone except for two
The embassy's been hard to reach
There's been talk and lately
A bit of action after dark
Behind the big casino on the beach
The rules are changed
It's not the same
It's all new players
In a whole new ball game
Last night I dreamed of an old lover
Dressed in gray
I've had this fever now since yesterday
Wake up darling they're knocking
The Colonel's standing in the sun
With his stupid face the glasses and the gun
I know what happens
I read the book
I believe I just got
The goodbye look
Won't you pour me
A Cuban breeze Gretchen
I know a fellow with a motor launch for hire
A skinny man with two-tone shoes
Cause tonight they're arranging
A small reception just for me
Behind the big casino by the sea
I know what happens
I read the book
I believe I just got
The goodbye look
On this quiet island in the bay
I remember a line of women all in white
The laughter and the steel bands at night
Now the Americans are gone except for two
The embassy's been hard to reach
There's been talk and lately
A bit of action after dark
Behind the big casino on the beach
The rules are changed
It's not the same
It's all new players
In a whole new ball game
Last night I dreamed of an old lover
Dressed in gray
I've had this fever now since yesterday
Wake up darling they're knocking
The Colonel's standing in the sun
With his stupid face the glasses and the gun
I know what happens
I read the book
I believe I just got
The goodbye look
Won't you pour me
A Cuban breeze Gretchen
I know a fellow with a motor launch for hire
A skinny man with two-tone shoes
Cause tonight they're arranging
A small reception just for me
Behind the big casino by the sea
I know what happens
I read the book
I believe I just got
The goodbye look
Lyrics submitted by Arbiter, edited by laffndragn
The Goodbye Look Lyrics as written by Donald Fagen
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The song is about an American ex-pat in Cuba, friends with Batista regime just before Castro and the commies take over. He should have left earlier when the other Americans did. The "goodbye look" is his intuition that he will be taken out behind the casino and shot by a Castro firing squad for being an American capitalist or something of that nature.
and next he will get shot!
see the last season of "Boardwalk Empire", the same thing nearly happens to Nucky Thompson in Cuba.
First time, I heard the song without knowing the lyrics. Sounded like some lover who had given him the kiss-off. Reading closer, the good-bye look is a lot more sinister!
I don't see arrested in the equation, however. Somehow, this guy was oblivious enough to get left behind after all the other Colonialists left. Now, after dark, locals are rounding up anyone who might be connected with the oppressors and taking care of them behind the big casino on the beach (which is probably pretty empty now). Could be a flaming tire around the neck or any other local execution rite, but chances are it's not pretty. He's just realized that he's one of the last ones left (he "got" the Goodbye Look). He's sick, there's no embassy to help, and the only chance he sees is some sleaze with a small boat.