50 Ways to Say Goodbye

Composition

"50 Ways to Say Goodbye" is a pop rock song in the key of E minor. It is in common time with a tempo of 140 beats per minute. It utilizes electric guitars and a mariachi influenced brass section and acoustic guitar.

Singer Pat Monahan said the song "was just a gag about a girl breaking up with a boy and being just so immature that the only way to handle it was just to tell your friends that she's dead."

The lyrics are a tongue-in-cheek narrative where to save face, the singer claims he will say his girlfriend died in a variety of outlandish ways rather than admit she dumped him. The song had some inspiration from Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" and was originally going to be titled "50 Ways to Kill Your Lover". That title was tossed as it could attract controversy.

Although the song is called "50 Ways to Say Goodbye", the song only references 11 unique excuses.

Critical reception

Nick Bassett of The Re-View compared "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" to its predecessor, saying that "whilst it lacks that Summery carefree vibe of "[Drive By"], this newbie is still buoyed by a jaunty radio-friendly chorus".

Music video

The music video was directed by Marc Klasfeld and features David Hasselhoff, Taryn Manning, Jonathan Lipnicki, and a Mariachi trio, in addition to band members Pat Monahan, Jimmy Stafford, and Scott Underwood (Stafford and Underwood have since left the band). The video is set in a supermarket with Monahan explaining to Hasselhoff and various other customers and staff members the absence of his girlfriend. Stafford portrays the store cashier and Underwood plays the butcher, while the girlfriend is played by Manning. The grocery store scenes are interspersed with cutaways to the various excuses Pat makes for his girlfriend's absence, as well as scenes of the band performing onstage. Towards the end of the video, a fan (Lipnicki) holding up signs consoling Pat for the supposed loss of his girlfriend finally holds up a sign that says "Rack City Bitch", a reference to "Rack City" by Tyga. At the end of the video, Pat's girlfriend is revealed to be alive and says hello to him and Hasselhoff, who stand awkwardly as she continues her shopping.

Track listing

• ;Digital download

1. "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" – 4:08

• ;CD single

1. "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" – 4:08
2. "Brand New Book" – 3:47

Credits

• Pat Monahan - songwriter, lead vocals
• Espen Lind - songwriter, producer, additional guitars, bass, keyboards, backing vocals, programming
• Amund Bjorklund - songwriter, producer, programming
• Jimmy Stafford - guitar
• Scott Underwood - drums
• Hector Maldonado - bass
• Jerry Becker - keyboards
• Brad Magers - horns

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

References

References

1. "Gold & Platinum - RIAA".
2. Harris, Kristin. (April 30, 2015). "Train's Pat Monahan Explains Some Of Their Most Iconic Lyrics".
3. . (September 27, 2012). ["Train Frontman Reveals Original Gruesome Title of "50 Ways to Say Goodbye""](http://wxerfm.com/news/articles/2012/sep/27/train-frontman-reveals-original-gruesome-title-of-50-ways-to-say-goodbye/).
4. "Train: 50 Ways To Say Goodbye (Official Music Video)".
5. "Train - 50 Ways to Say Goodbye". [[Sony Music Entertainment.
6. "Icelandic Singles Chart". Tonlist.is.
7. (July 1, 2012). "The Official Lebanese Top 20 – Train". [[The Official Lebanese Top 20]].
8. [https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/canadian-hot-100 "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2012"]. ''Billboard''. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
9. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2012". Dutch Top 40.
10. [https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2012&cat=s "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2012"] (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
11. "Best of 2012 - Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.com.
12. [https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/adult-contemporary-songs "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2012"]. ''Billboard''. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
13. "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2012".
14. [https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/adult-contemporary-songs "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2013"]. ''Billboard''. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
15. "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases - Hot Adult Contemporary Rock Songs and Release Dates - ...".
16. "Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates ...".