I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You

Album: Transcendental Highway (1998)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Colin Hay wrote this song after a long battle with alcoholism that cost him his marriage and sent him into a depression. "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You" came to him very quickly - it took him only about 40 minutes to write. The "you" in the song is alcohol, which was so important to him for so long that it seemed to take on its own persona. Sober, he can drink good coffee every morning, but he'll never completely get over the whiskey.

    In 2007, he released a more direct song on this topic: "I Wish I Was Still Drinking."
  • This song appeared on Hay's fifth solo album, Transcendental Highway, which got little notice. With his band Men At Work, he was a multi-platinum recording artist, but he had trouble finding an audience on his own. He got a big break when Zach Braff discovered his music and got him on his show Scrubs. When Braff made the movie Garden State in 2004, he included "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You" on the soundtrack, which was a huge seller, introducing Hay to a new audience.

Comments: 6

  • Chris from TorontoI lost my wife of 37 years last month. My bro-in-law sent me this song. I listened to it over and over for 5 hours solid. It is a magnificent piece about loss, played and sung with economy and emotion and deep, profound insight. Colin Hay may have written it about giving up drink but I can’t listen to it and not think of my wife. I made her coffee every morning for 37 years. No more. Beautiful music transcends. It captures depth in a way no other form of communication can. It is a gift. Thank you Colin Hay. Beautiful.
  • RrrYou are the one that's supposed to give meaning to the You. ;)
  • Steven Edwards from UkI lost Colin after his first solo album Looking For Jack and found him again 11 albums later when I saw him performing with Bare Naked Ladies. So much, thoughtful and emotional songs, many about hardship and loss but always quality whether it's album material or his live shows with great songs and stories.
  • Chris from IllinoisI find it hard to believe that this song is solely about his alcoholism.
  • Arfon Harry Williams from Wirral UkI have discovered Colin Hay ...via Overkill...then I heard this song.......speechless. Beautiful song..The 'you' for me was different of course..
  • Michael from Dundee Scotland I've listened to Collins music for years amazing voice would love to see him live. Unfortunately never see uk dates. But if we both could live to 102 I will then see you.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Intentionally Atrocious

Intentionally AtrociousSong Writing

A selection of songs made to be terrible - some clearly achieved that goal.

Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

Songs About Movies

Songs About MoviesSong Writing

Iron Maiden, Adele, Toto, Eminem and Earth, Wind & Fire are just some of the artists with songs directly inspired by movies - and not always good ones.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up Musicians

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.