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Skip the Goodbyes Lyrics
Your town is a circle and it spun me round
I let go and I let you down
I skipped the goodbyes now I'm on my way
Memory won't you let me down
To when the good times seemed to flow around
I'm not great with goodbyes now anyhow
Circles, the Sun and sky, the ground is whole, I lose control
Circles, the tide comes in, the grass and trees, I'm on my knees
Circles, the storm is near, the wind and rain, I can't complain
Circles, most everything comes around,
and if you skip the goodbyes I'm down
Melodies, they often, take you back
To the place where you, jumped the track
Who needs goodbyes when you're on your way
I let go and I let you down
I skipped the goodbyes now I'm on my way
To when the good times seemed to flow around
I'm not great with goodbyes now anyhow
Circles, the tide comes in, the grass and trees, I'm on my knees
Circles, the storm is near, the wind and rain, I can't complain
Circles, most everything comes around,
and if you skip the goodbyes I'm down
To the place where you, jumped the track
Who needs goodbyes when you're on your way
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This song was written by Tom Marshall some time after an Amfibian show that took place on October 1st, 2004, at the State Theater New Brunswick, NJ. Prior to this show Tom's good friend and song writing partner, Trey Anastasio (the front-man/guitarist for Phish) visited Tom and at had agreed to appear as a guest to play with the band during that night's show. I was there as part of the Amfibian crew. I met Trey and lent him my Washburn acoustic/electric guitar (that I still have, with those same strings) so he and Tom could rehearse a few songs during that afternoon. I believe they played Phish songs "Brian and Robert" and "Waste" among others during the impromptu rehearsal on the couch. After this informal practice, Trey left to get some new shoes as his were wet from walking through puddles on his way to the theater (whatever you do, take care of your shoes!) and then met up with Tom for a pre-show dinner at a nearby restaurant. Trey then left and planned to come back for the show. Excitement built as word got around that Trey was to appear that night to perform with Tom and the band. This was extra special as Trey had just ended Phish a few months before with the final show in Coventry Vermont and he hadn't played out since. So, the show begins. It's a strong performance, during which Tom hints to the packed crowd that a special guest will be joining them at some point. I was taking some video and photos before hanging out for a bit in the backstage area along with a friend of mine and several other people on the guest list. Before long, Trey entered the room. All eyes were on him but nobody said a word to him as he strolled casually through the space, guitar in a soft case on his back. He went from one end of the room to the other and then back before apparently leaving the venue, without making his guest appearance and without saying goodbye to Tom (he "skipped the Goodbyes"). Tom was made to look foolish and left his audience hanging without the anticipated Trey appearance. In retrospect, though I wasn't told it was up to me to welcome Trey and usher him to an appropriate area so he could get ready to perform, I suppose I should have done so. If I had, he probably would have made his guest appearance and not left Tom hanging...but then again, if I had done that, we probably wouldn't have this great song to enjoy. Weird how things come around.
Here's a video from that night October 1, 2004, when Trey left and "Skipped the Goodbyes" instead of guest appearing with Tom and his band. Song is called "Nothing New" and has an interesting meaning of its own. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADq-bq51ER0