Seems like it's about leaving a girl who's fallen harder for you than you have for her, and being torn about whether it's the right or wrong thing to do.
He's saying to "let them say what they will/that no one should hurt ya" and then he sings in a lower tone, "that's all I seem to do," and then repeats it with "that no one should desert ya."
When he says "goodbye mama" he's not talking about his mom; it's like calling someone "baby." Back in the '50's, "mama" was used in a similar fashion... couples would call eachother "mama" and "papa." Things have gotten too serious for him and he's tried to tell her this but she hasn't wanted to hear it, hence "been tryin to tell you what's going on," and now it's getting to the point where he has no choice but to just call it quits.
And through the rest of the song that becomes obvious. He feels bad because he thought that a quick, easy romance would be a good thing but it's led to more pain.
Seems like it's about leaving a girl who's fallen harder for you than you have for her, and being torn about whether it's the right or wrong thing to do.
He's saying to "let them say what they will/that no one should hurt ya" and then he sings in a lower tone, "that's all I seem to do," and then repeats it with "that no one should desert ya."
When he says "goodbye mama" he's not talking about his mom; it's like calling someone "baby." Back in the '50's, "mama" was used in a similar fashion... couples would call eachother "mama" and "papa." Things have gotten too serious for him and he's tried to tell her this but she hasn't wanted to hear it, hence "been tryin to tell you what's going on," and now it's getting to the point where he has no choice but to just call it quits.
And through the rest of the song that becomes obvious. He feels bad because he thought that a quick, easy romance would be a good thing but it's led to more pain.
Great song.