The song "Goodbye Maria" by Engelbert Humperdinck tells the story of a person still deeply affected by the memory of a lost love named Maria. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and sadness as the singer reflects on their past relationship. The first verse describes how the memories of Maria still surround the person. They can hear her voice in their head and see reminders of her such as boxes of books she never took and pictures hanging by the bed. This shows that despite the passage of time, the singer is still haunted by the presence of Maria. The chorus, "Goodbye Maria, I love you, How long will you stay in my heart, I'll try every day, To get myself to say, Goodbye Maria, goodbye," expresses the singer's struggle to let go of Maria. They still hold on to their love for her, but they acknowledge the need to move on. They attempt to say goodbye to her every day, but it is a challenging task. The second verse talks about the broken promises in their relationship. Despite this, the singer decides to put their dreams of being with Maria to rest. They find it difficult to believe that they are actually letting go, but they feel it's necessary for their own well-being. The bridge section highlights the confusion and pain associated with Maria's departure. The singer expresses their confusion about why Maria left without any explanation or reason, leaving them with a sense of emptiness and loss. Overall, the song portrays the struggles of letting go of a past love and the lingering impact that the memory of that person can have. Despite the pain, the singer acknowledges the need to say goodbye and find closure in order to move forward.
