Download the piano/vocal score.

YOU’LL NEVER HEAR ME SAY GOODBYE

MARCUS
ALL OF THESE YEARS,
YOU GIVE BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS;
HALF OF YOUR LIFETIME INVESTED.
TO BRING YOUR LITTLE GIRL JOY,
WHICH ALWAYS ANNOYS,
THE OLD GUARD; SO YOUR PUSHED, AND YOU'RE TESTED.

(CHARLOTTE appears in the doorway. Music vamps under the following.)

CHARLOTTE
Who are you talking to, Marcus? We got a tree fort to finish. Chop, chop.

MARCUS
(looking up from the papers)
Honey. Listen to me for a sec. Your mother and I love you very much.

CHARLOTTE
(taken aback, concerned)
Um. What? Are you feeling okay?

MARCUS
I’ll be straight, Champ. Your mom wants you to live with her full time.

CHARLOTTE
Duh. So tell her to shove it up her...

MARCUS
Charlotte! Listen. Just. Whatever happens, you and me: Famleez fo’ life.

(They dap.)

CHARLOTTE
(still concerned)
But wait. What do you mean, whatever happens?
SHE CAN’T WIN, CAN SHE?

MARCUS
No.

CHARLOTTE
YEAH, BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW?

MARCUS
JUST TRUST ME. IT’S OUT OF THE QUESTION.

CHARLOTTE
WILL YOU VISIT?

MARCUS
Charlotte, don’t.
IT HASN’T HAPPENED, AND IT WON’T.
I’M SORRY I GAVE YOU THAT IMPRESSION.
Nothing’s changing, Charlotte. Nothing.
YOU’LL NEVER HEAR ME SAY GOODBYE.
NO MATTER WHAT ROOF YOU LIVE UNDER.
DIVORCES, WILD HORSES COULDN’T PRY
ME AWAY FROM MY LITTLE GIRL WONDER.

(Music vamps under the following)

CHARLOTTE
Then why all of this?

MARCUS
(holding his fist in dap position)
Hey. What did I just say?
YOU AND ME, WE’RE
TWO MUSKETEERS.
NOTHING CAN TAKE ME AWAY FROM YOU.

TRY AS SHE MIGHT
I’M NOT LEAVING YOUR SIGHT.
YOU’LL NEVER HEAR ME SAY GOODBYE!
WE’RE PEAS IN A POD, BIRDS OF A FEATHER.
PULL US APART? JUST LET HER TRY.

CHARLOTTE AND MARCUS
LIKE DANCE AND SONG WE BELONG TOGETHER.
LIKE KNIFE AND FORK.
LIKE BUTTER AND BREAD.
LIKE BEANS AND PORK.
LIKE BREAKFAST AND BED.
LIKE SUGAR AND SPICE
AND EVERYTHING NICE!

YOU’LL NEVER SEE ME WAVE GOODBYE.
THERE ISN’T A STORM WE CAN’T WEATHER.
WHEN GRAY CLOUDS COME, WE’VE GOT BLUE SKIES.
WE’LL NEVER LET GO, OUR SOULS ARE TETHERED.

PEOPLE ARRIVE AND DISAPPEAR.
OUR LIVES ARE JAM-PACKED WITH PASSERSBY.
ME, I WILL ALWAYS BE HERE.
AND YOU’LL NEVER HEAR ME SAY GOODBYE.

Words and Music by Michael Johnson
© 2022, Zubsongs, Ltd.