“I Will Not Say Goodbye” by Danny Gokey

“I Will Not Say Goodbye” is featured on Danny Gokey’s debut album “My Best Days”

It’s not at all unusual for someone who has lost a loved one to feel that they should “let go” and move on from the loss. But as anyone who has experienced the pain of grief understands, “moving on” isn’t something that happens after someone dies. The people we love are a part of our lives forever, even after they’re gone. The pain of grief subsides, but the love we feel lives on. 

“I Will Not Say Goodbye” by Danny Gokey is a song that perfectly describes the feeling of not wanting to move on from loss for fear of losing the memory of the person we love. The song begins:

It changes everything you’ve been
And all that’s left to be
Is empty, lonely, broken, hopin’
I’m supposed to be strong
I’m supposed to find a way to carry on

I don’t wanna feel better
I don’t wanna not remember
I will always see your face
In the shadows of this haunted place

I will laugh
I will cry
Shake my fist at the sky
But I will not say goodbye

Obviously, the singer is devastated by the loss of his beloved, and he wants nothing more than to be strong enough to conquer the pain. But at the same time, he has an even stronger need to hold on to his memories and the love he feels. When Gokey sings, “I will laugh/I will cry/Shake my fist at the sky/But I will not say goodbye,” he is doing what many of us have done — keeping his loved one alive in his heart. 

Danny Gokey performing in 2016

A Song Born From Loss

A finalist on the eighth season of American Idol, Danny Gokey is no stranger to loss. His first wife, Sophia Martinez, suffered from congenital heart disease and died unexpectedly following her third open heart surgery in 2004, a loss that sent the now-famous Christian artist into a tailspin of grief. Shortly after her death, he channeled his love of music into a bid for a spot on the Fox reality show, where he shared his heartache and musical talent with an appreciative and supportive audience. Although he did not walk away with the top spot on the show , his success there paved a way for a lucrative career. Gokey has since been nominated for three Grammy’s and has twice been named KLOVE Male Vocalist of the Year. “I Will Not Say Goodbye” was a single from his debut album, “My Best Days” released in March 2010. 

A born-again Christian, Gokey credits his success to his strong faith and belief in music as a conduit for healing. His latest album, “Haven’t Seen It Yet” reached #1 on the Billboard Christian music chart in 2019.

You can hear Gokey perform the song, “I Will Not Say Goodbye” in the video below.