Never Say Goodbye (Bon Jovi song)

"Never Say Goodbye"
Single by Bon Jovi
from the album Slippery When Wet
Released	August 14, 1987
Format	CD single
Recorded	1986
Genre	Glam metal
Length	4:49
Label	Mercury
Writer(s)	Jon Bon Jovi Richie Sambora
Producer	Bruce Fairbairn
Bon Jovi singles chronology
"Wanted Dead or Alive" (1987) "Never Say Goodbye" (1987) "Edge of a Broken Heart" (1987)

"Never Say Goodbye" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi, written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. It was released as the fourth single off the band's album, Slippery When Wet, in August 1987, and reached number 11 on the Mainstream rock charts and number 21 in the UK Singles Chart. Unlike the album's previous three singles, "Never Say Goodbye" did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song was featured on some versions of the band's Cross Road greatest hits album and is still occasionally performed live by the band in concert.

A cover of the song in Mandarin Chinese was recorded by Taiwanese rock group Power Station and released in 2009.

Song style

"Never Say Goodbye" is a power ballad, featuring drawn out vocals and a slow tempo, in contrast to the other tracks on "Slippery When Wet", which are of a much more upbeat, hard rock pace. The song describes the relationship of Jon Bon Jovi and his actual wife Dorothea, and how he wished her in his side at that moment.

This song is often used as the class song at prom nights, especially in New Jersey. Jon Bon Jovi claims that his inspiration for the song was the Southside Johnny song "Hearts of Stone".

The song is in the key of A major and progresses to C# minor G and D major.

Track listing

• Original US Release (Mercury 888 806-7, August 14, 1987)

1. "Never Say Goodbye"
2. "Edge of a Broken Heart"

• Original European Release (August 13, 1987)

1. "Never Say Goodbye"
2. "Shot Through the Heart" (Live)

US & UK CD "Re-Release"

1. "Never Say Goodbye"
2. "Social Disease"
3. "Edge Of A Broken Heart"
4. "Raise Your Hands"

Chart performance

Chart (1987)	Peak position
Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks	11
UK Rock Chart	21