50 Ways To Say Goodbye by Train

Album: California 37 (2012)

Charted: 50 20

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The song follows a similar theme to Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover," though in this instance it's the guy's pride that has been hurt as he looks for excuses to tell his friends why she's disappeared from his life. To save face, he tells them she's dead.
Train frontman Pat Monahan penned this song with Espionage, the Norwegian production duo that helped pen "Hey Soul Sister." Espionage is made up of Espen Lind and Amund Bjørklund and amongst their other credits are Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable" and Chris Brown's "With You."
Though the song's title claims there are 50 ways to say goodbye, we can only find 11 lies about his farewell the protagonist tells, all involving his former beau's demise. They are:

1. Went down in an airplane
2. Fried getting suntan
3. Fell in a cement mixer full of quicksand
4. Met a shark under water
5. Fell and no one caught her
6. Caught in a mudslide
7. Eaten by a lion
8. Run over by a crappy purple Scion
9. Dried up in the desert
10. Drowned in a hot tub
11. Danced to death at an east side night club
The Mariachi influenced horns are played by Brad Magers, whose day job is the bass player for The Bronx. The Los Angeles-based rock band have also released two albums under their alter egos "Mariachi El Bronx," in which they play Mariachi music in place of their usual hardcore punk styles.
The song's melody has been compared by some reviewers to Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera."

Comments: 12

Johnspice from Bayville NyPat Monahan is a genius with a great voice. Steve Perry great. Love the song. Video is very entertaining. David Hasselhoff? REALLY? lol
Lc from MarylandMaybe I was just light headed from fasting all day, but during Yom Kippur services this year I saw a connection between this song and the holiday liturgy. Initially, I thought the "how could you leave on Yom Kippur?" line was just funny and an excuse for the singer's despair. But I realized that a poignant prayer in the Yom Kippur service includes a list of list of ways people may die in the coming year if they don't live a good life. "Who by fire, and who by water... etc." Granted, it's not "Fried getting suntan," and I have no idea if the writer is Jewish, but I wonder if there is a connection?
Colbert000So reason being why this sounds like phantom of the opera is because it is the same key and has the same chord progressions… Axis of revolution (I think is their name) does a video basically to this effect showing how most modern pop songs have the same chords.
Ethanbentley from UkThe song's melody has been compared by some reviewers to Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera."

Yeh I wonder why? First thing I thought of surprised there wasn’t a legal case.
Mia from Texas this song is so funny and it's great my dad used to say not to play train songs because I play them all the time! And LOVE this SONG
Randy Ostdiek from Nebraska Who was the woman who stole the shoes from the dummy in the cement
Birdfeather from Sf Bay Area I want to know why she called him "super minivan". That is a slang term I am not familiar with, but I have an ex-husband that it might be appropriate for.
Danielle from MassachusettsBy far my favorite song of all time!!! Funniest song ever!
Red from Sicklerville, NjThis song is played on a Soft Rock station I listen to...I would like for Train to "step out onto the water"; that is, promote the song on Rap and Soul stations..."50 Ways to Say Goodbye", and the Grocery Store video are Right On!
Mason from Chanhassen, MnLarry, it's a reference to the music video. While walking around the grocery store singing about his girlfriend leaving, Pat Monahan encounters a Hasidic Jewish man, who attempts to reassure him.
Larry from Wayne, PaSince I don't think any of the writers are Jewish, why is the line "how could you leave on Yom Kippur" in the song?
The Truth from Bowling Green, KyRockin' song. I like how the chorus changes but yet remains the same. The video is pretty good to.

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