I’m largely indifferent to Dave Matthews Band these days but years ago, after the release of Crash, I thought they were just about the best thing going. Under the Table and Dreaming, the album that first earned them mainstream success, was fresh and exciting and unlike anything I’d heard before, but Crash took their sound to a whole new level.
That album has one of the best opening lineups of all-time, with the art-funk of ‘So Much To Say’ segueing into the jazz hoedown of ‘Two Step’ all leading up to the gorgeous beyond words ‘Crash Into Me.’
But even given that amazing kickoff, the song that hit me hardest when I first heard Crash was ‘Say Goodbye,’ the epic centerpiece about friends turned into lovers… for one night, anyway.
It’s all about the buildup. One minute of percussion and flute teasing the listener the way Matthews teases the object of his affection throughout the rest of the song. The lyrics and delivery are sexy as hell, with references to “tangled tongues and lips” and “a storm outside.” And tomorrow she’ll go back to her man (the poor sap) while these two go “back to being friends” (yeah, right).
I can’t think of another song quite like this one… truly a special work of art.
You and me together
With a storm outside
And the fire’s bright
Oh, and in your eyes
I see what’s on my mind
You’ve got me wild
Turned around inside
Oh and then desire, see
Is creeping up heavy
Oh inside here
And do you feel
The same way as I do now
Let’s make this an evening
Lovers for a night, lovers for tonight
Why, stay here with me, love, tonight
Just for an evening
And when we will make it
Our passionate pictures
You and me twist up as secret creatures
And we’ll stay here
Tomorrow go back to being friends
Yeah, Oh, go back to being friends
But tonight let’s be lovers,
We kiss and sweat
We’ll turn this better thing to the best
Of all it can offer
Oh, this rogue kiss
Tangled tongues and lips
See me this way
I’m turning and turning for you
Ah girl, ah just tonight run away
Yeah, with me for an evening
Ah, just wait and see
But then tomorrow go back to your man
I’m back to my world
And we’re back to being friends
Oh wait and see me
Ah tonight, oh let’s do this thing
All we are is wasting hours
’til the sun comes
It’s all ours
On our way here, yeah cause
Tomorrow go back to being friends
Yeah, oh go back to being friends
Tonight let’s be lovers, oh please
Tonight let’s be lovers, say you will
Tonight let’s be lovers, oh yeah
Tonight let’s be lovers
And hear me call,
Oh soft-spoken whispering now
Well, a thing or two I have to say here
Tonight let’s go all the way then
Oh lover I can see you
Just for an evening
Oh, let’s strip down
Trip out at this
One evening’s hour starts with a kiss
And away yeah, then
And tomorrow back to being friends yeah
And now lover, love you, yeah,
Just for tonight, one night, love you,
And tomorrow say goodbye
Tomorrow say goodbye…
Meet Me In Montauk 
Dave shows quite the range of sexuality–from this exchange with a taken woman to his encounter with a young boy asked to hike up his skirt to show Dave his world:)
Anyway, I heard DMB recently, I think it was on SNL, and tend to agree that the originality shown on these first few albums has faded, which is a shame.
This is a great song, but I still favor that great opening duo you discussed. That is one of the best openings of any album ever.