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

Peter Lord

Peter LordSongwriter Interviews

You may not recognize his name, but you will certainly recognize Peter Lord's songs. He wrote the bevy of hits from Paula Abdul's second album, Spellbound.

Justin Timberlake

Justin TimberlakeFact or Fiction

Was Justin the first to be Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher? Did Britney really blame him for her meltdown? Did his bandmates think he was gay?

Joan Armatrading

Joan ArmatradingSongwriter Interviews

The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?