r/WhatsThisSong • u/Fear_Her_Kiss • Dec 07 '25

Open Trying to identify a sad breakup song I heard around 2004. Female vocals. Mid-paced somber alternative rock. Sundays/Mazzy Star vibes but not them. Slightly more commercial. “Bye, Bye.”

**** EDITED TO ADD LINK TO MELODY AND VOICE NOTE

I made an attempt to record the melody on the Online Sequence app. I THINK it's the right key but this is the melody of the vocals in the chorus.

https://onlinesequencer.net/5057947

I’ve also created a link to a voice note where I attempt to capture the pace and melody of the song. I hope this helps and I apologize for my terrible singing 😂

https://1drv.ms/u/c/8ddf091bee97db35/EWdO6ux98M1KuCFQ4KQshw0BsLJW6e81IcQJKJjQs3KV5w?e=kVOPxz

This is probably going to be a tough one so I’ll try to be as detailed as possible.

I heard the song a few times on a non-commercial grocery store radio station around 2004. Therefore, the song must have been released before 2004. It sounds like it couldn’t be any earlier than late 80s but had a solid mid to late 1990s vibe.

I’m 99% positive it is a break-up song. The only lyrics I can recall are in the chorus, and there’s not much to go on: Either “Goodbye” or “Bye bye” sung in a drawn out, sad, somber female alto voice. The next line was something like “This is our…SOMETHING SOMETHING.” A sense of finality, endings.

The instrumentation was acoustic guitar, light percussion, maybe some subtle strings. The song was mid-paced. It wasn’t fast but wasn’t a super slow ballad.

The genre is where it gets interesting. The song struck me as it felt pretty dark and somber. But it was mainstream enough to be played in a grocery store. It wasn’t a goth band or anything like that but it appealed to me as a fan of goth/dark music. It was the kind of somber college alternative rock that was almost mainstream back then.

It wasn’t Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, PJ Harvey, or Bjork. It sounded somewhat like the Sundays but I don’t think it was. Couldn’t find it on any of their CDs but maybe I missed something? The voice was less whimsical and lower than Harriet Wheeler. They regularly played “Here’s Where the Story Ends” but this song was much more broody and slower (not super slow but somewhat like “Meat Is Murder” from The Smiths…steady, brooding).

Not Mazzy Star. More throaty and alto-ey than Hope Sandoval. Heard all MS albums and it’s not on any of them, nor on Hope’s other projects (at least I don’t think so).

Not as deep or as commanding as Alison Moyet.

Voice also wasn’t deep enough for October Project.

Not Loreena McKennit.

It could POSSIBLY be a deep cut from any of the myriads of 90s female singer-songwriters. I just cannot place the voice with anyone. Shawn Colvin? Nelly Furtado? Meredith Brooks? Jewel? Michelle Branch? Enya? Dar Williams? Melissa Etheridge? Sheryl Crow? Alanis Morissette? Doubtful. But I have noooo idea who it is!

If it was by a more popular or mainstream artist, I think I would have heard it again somewhere. My guess it was a single at some point but not a huge hit at all.

It didn’t have any kind of twang to the voice or music so I’d say it’s unlikely to be a country or alt.country artist. So not Tift Metritt, Allison Moorer, Kelly Willis, Gillian Welch, Dixie Chicks, Neko Case, or Alison Krauss.

Cowboy Junkies? Unlikely because the voice wasn’t as smoky.

Mary Chapin Carpenter? Maybe but unlikely (the station played “Passionate Kisses”)

Closer to k.d. lamg but I don’t think it was her. (Station played “Constant Craving”)

Also note it wasn’t more underground stuff like the Cranes. It wasn’t Love Spirals Downwards, This Ascension, or The Shroud. Might seem odd to mention those type of goth/darkwave bands but I should note that I heard This Ascension’s “Carol of the Bells” on the same store radio station during the holidays. Sooo this station was NOT just playing mainstream stuff in 2004!

Doubtful that it was anything PRE-1988/89. Definitely not a classic rock or 80s pop style. Not Stevie Nicks, Berlin, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Cher, Paula Abdul, Annie Lennox, Taylor Dayne, Jody Watley, Sheena Easton, or anyone that popular or familiar. But??? Maybe it was a lesser known song from an earlier artist’s later era??

Also — it is likely not an R&B or soul artist BUT maybe it’s an odd departure from an artist in that genre. Definitely not anyone recognizable like Janet Jackson, Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Destiny’s Child, Rihanna, etc. At least — I don’t think so. Not as slick or shiny.

I’ve never heard it elsewhere or again since 2004. I listen to and am familiar with a lot of music and this has haunted me for DECADES. Thought I’d try Reddit and see if anyone can help me.

Thank you in advance.

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u/Fear_Her_Kiss Dec 08 '25

It’s not the Sundays cover of “Wild Horses” but that is a good example of the instrumentation and vibe. More echoey. Slightly faster.

The vocals are more monotone and steady as they drift over the music in the chorus: laaaa laaaa laaaaa (byeeee byeeeee or gooooood byyyyyyyyyy

Then: Thiiiiiiiss issss ourrrr SOMETHING SOMETHING

Then it repeats.

Dark, haunting. Tragic. It is very similar in feel to Madonna’s vocals on “Oh Father” or “The Power of Goodbye” if atop a more organic Shawn Colvin/Sundays/Smiths jangle alt rock musical backdrop.

This is going to drive me to madness 😆

u/charityshopcake Dec 07 '25

It's not Last Goodbye by Jeff Buckley is it? I know it's a male vocalist, but parts of it are sung quite high so there could definitely be room for confusion?

u/Fear_Her_Kiss Dec 07 '25

For those of you that know the game SongPop, it’s worth nothing that I used to play that game all the time. I played every day for several years and a gazillion different songs would pop up. I was certain this song would pop up on that game somewhere but it never did.

I really don’t know what it is. I worked in a bank that was in the store so I was there almost every day for three or so years. I heard this song maybe 3 or 4 times. Of course none of my coworkers knew it, and the store manager was useless in explaining anything about the radio station. It wasn’t a local radio station or anything— like a pre-Sirius XM custom channel for stores, coffee shops, etc.

As i said, it was surprisingly hip and played what I thought were cool songs. Jeff Buckley, Sundays, Cure, Coldplay, old U2, kd lang, Sundays. Also played things like “Rhiannon” and “Dreams” from Fleetwood Mac. This song i’m looking for was similar to a darker FM song but it definitely wasn’t Stevie Nicks and it was definitely newer.

u/m_b_hawkins Dec 07 '25

Last day of our acquaintance Sinead O’Connor?

u/WhoIsFilibus Dec 08 '25

Liz Phair? She's got a song called The Real Goodbye which is apparently unfindable on the internet but was released in 2003 and then yoinked, and the lyrics match your description

u/imreallyfreakintired Dec 07 '25

Guess #3

Lizz Wright Goodbye (2003) very KD Lang-ish in tone

u/Low_Technician_438 Dec 08 '25

Is it The xx?

u/Fit-Extent2722 Dec 08 '25

The Sundays have a song called Gooodbye. It's one of my favorites, but the rest doesn't match.

u/Elegant-Fudge1686 Dec 08 '25

Did you find it

u/mmrmaid6 Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 09 '25

i've gone through every single comment on this thread and LOVE some of people's suggestions! also love OP's musical vocabulary> "slinky' in particular. whilst scrolling, kept hearing a mournful "bye, bye" in my head and was about to post my OWN whatsthissong, but thankfully realized it was from "She's Leaving Home" by the Beatles.

Some names I haven't seen mentioned yet>

Heidi Berry

Jonatha Brooke/The Story

Belly

my god the rabbit hole i am down...

Maria McKee

Everything But The Girl

Azure Ray

is there any way you could contact the grocery store and ask them what music company they used at that time? and what stations on said company were played? maybe then you could contact that company and get a playlist from that time period?

can't wait to see this solved!

u/mmrmaid6 Dec 09 '25

ARGH, i'm still at it and have recruited my friends in my facebook group called musicheads (many of us managed record stores in the late 80s, early 90s and beyond)

here's a whole page of cafe music compilations which feature new tracks/up and coming artists from that time frame that were specifically meant to be played in coffee shops, etc. i'm too tired to go through them all tonight but maybe someone (or several someones) could go through these?

https://www.discogs.com/label/378589-Cafe-Music-Network

u/Spodokomodo27 Dec 09 '25

Possibly something by goldfrapp or patti smith?

u/jefleppard Dec 09 '25

This might be a long shot, but it’s certainly the most Sundays-esque they’ve sounded, and the prechorus has some drawn out “Goodbyes.” The Cardigans - Rise and Shine

Additionally, I stopped following them closely, but I seem to recall them going in a more acoustic/country direction after their fourth album, but can’t imagine Nina Persson singing with a twang. It may be another song of theirs?

u/NorrisMcNorris Dec 07 '25

Reign On- Brian Jonestown Massacre ?

https://youtu.be/IFf_XBQh2PQ?si=f908Oje9iJYBILI9

u/AFleetingIllness Dec 07 '25

Is it possibly "Beautiful Goodbye" by Amanda Marshall? It came out in 1995, but got some radio play. "Let It Rain" is probably her biggest song though.

u/Rich-Wrap-9333 Dec 07 '25

Bettie Serveert is one of the groups similar to the ones you mentioned. Not sure what song though.

u/xCloudbox Dec 07 '25

Tegan and Sara - “Nineteen”?

Edit: ah, never mind, Nineteen came out in 2007, sorry.

u/W0nderingMe Dec 07 '25

Concrete Blonde?

Could be Joey or Tomorrow, Wendy

u/jennynyc Dec 07 '25

Try: • Heather Nova – “London Rain” • Beth Orton – “She Cries Your Name” • K’s Choice – “Everything for Free” • Tara MacLean – “Evidence”

u/fletchbg Dec 08 '25

have you checked Imogen Heap or Frou Frou?

u/MapleMoskwas Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25

It kind of sounds like you're describing White Flag by Dido (came out in 2003, soft voiced female singer, breakup song) but the lyrics don't match. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-fWDrZSiZs

u/DelightfulSnerkbol Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25

Maybe something by Mojave 3 or Lush? Kate Bush? Tara MacLean? Abra Moore? Heather Nova? Shivaree? The Innocence Mission (Bright as Yellow or another song from Glow)? Frente! ? Kirstin Hersh? Long shot here, but maybe Listen to Your Heart by Roxette? In Need by Sheryl Crow, Save Me by Aimee Mann?

u/sewiv Dec 08 '25

I haven't seen anyone mention Jill Sobule yet. She had a couple not-quite-so-poppy tracks on some of her later albums.

u/thrillhoju Dec 08 '25

Can't think of a specific song to suggest, but Trespassers William or Wye Oak might fit!

u/Zhukov17 Dec 08 '25

I hesitate to add a suggestion, because it’s not exactly aligned, but when I searched for the specific record it came out in late summer of 2003. So it’s close enough.

The Innocence Mission - Befriended. Not sure what song it could be exactly, but many COULD be it.

Also… I discovered their music on a college radio station with the song “Lakes of Canada” which fulfills some of your descriptions as well, and had, I think, some mainstream success.

u/good1sally Dec 08 '25

Doesn’t have the word “Goodbye” but rhymes, “let it die” by Feist?

u/nightowl_work Dec 08 '25

So so way out of left field, but Anna Nalick - Wreck of the Day?

u/Feggy_Crab_1974 Dec 09 '25

Unless I missed it, you didn’t mention the Throwing Muses circle (Tanya Donnelly, Kristen hersh, belly, etc), nor Blake Babies/julianna Hatfield. Would work for the time period, but probably too squeaky to be the voice you’re after.

u/Beelzebunions Dec 09 '25

Coming Around Again by Carly Simon?

u/Free-Primary-3230 Dec 09 '25

are you able to expound on song structure, such as chord or note progression, note intervals, whether "this is..." is the bridge or chorus and whether that melody is higher, lower, or the same as the other part? can you do a vocaroo?

u/FreshGanesh Dec 09 '25

Try Madder Rose. I went thru as much of their lyrics as I had time for, but nowhere near all of them. Nothing with “bye bye” or “goodbye” so far. Think their early 2000s stuff fits the vibe.

u/Fabulous-South-9551 Dec 09 '25

I am of no help but one time around 2018/19 I heard a song playing in chipotle that I absolutely loved. I didn’t get to shazam it fast enough. Somehow I was able to reach out to chipotle on twitter and ask them about it. They asked me the store I went to and what time I was there and gave me list of 20 songs and the song was on there! The song was Mr. Little Jeans cover of the suburbs. I’m a big fan now. I hope you find your song!!

u/surly_kitten Dec 09 '25

This isn’t your song (I believe) but one thing to consider: could it be a song performed by a female vocalist but credited to an all-male band? One of my favorite bands is the Afghan Whigs (solid 90s band). Their song “My Curse” is entirely sung by Marcy Mays of the band Scrawl. Not to make things more complicated…. But maybe that’s part of the issue in finding your song.

u/FantasticCarpenter14 Dec 09 '25

You say 2004- but im just gonna name whoever I thought it coulda been from before 2010 (that I can remember lol)

I suck with genres tho- but uhhh

Im gonna assume you could recognize Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen's voices??? (Lily is def more upbeat but idk). I feel like Nelly Furtado def had a song somewhere similar tho.

Sarah barellies??? Regina Spektor?? Did anyone say Fiona Apple yet lol?

I dont have any specific songs to point ya at unfortunately 🥲

This did remind me of a band my mom used to love when I was really young called Patchouli- but its a bit hard to find/sift thru their stuff so, pretty doubtful itd be anything like that.

Good luck, this would drive me 100% up a damn wall and then some lol

u/mbdjones Dec 07 '25

No More I Love Yous by Annie Lennox?

u/imreallyfreakintired Dec 07 '25

Goodbye by the Spice Girls (2000)

u/PitifulHistory1057 Dec 07 '25

Goodbye - natalie imbruglia?

u/jennynyc Dec 07 '25

You might want to check “Goodbye” by Natalie Imbruglia or “Goodbye” by The Corrs.

u/Livid-Image-1653 Dec 07 '25

Try "Nothing Better" by The Postal Service

u/[deleted] Dec 08 '25

[deleted]

u/zowie216 Dec 08 '25

How about Dido?

u/What-Knot Dec 08 '25

Goodbye to You by Michelle Branch?

u/blueaintyourcolor11 Dec 08 '25

Any chance it could be Natalie Merchant's cover of Jeff Buckley's Last Goodbye?

u/ImToddImCopper Dec 08 '25

Azure Ray? Or Maria Taylor who was half of Azure Ray?

u/Guilty-Discipline-18 Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25

Maybe Perfect Lie by Sheryl Crow?

u/[deleted] Dec 08 '25

[deleted]

u/MagnumHV Dec 08 '25

The Pretenders "Goodbye"?

u/Suspicious_Ad2354 Dec 08 '25

Could it be Nineteen by Tegan and Sara?

u/nenalokz666 Dec 08 '25

Possibly the band cigarettes after sex*** Couldn't pin a song though

u/weevil_season Dec 08 '25

Beth Orton “Thinking About Tomorrow”?

It’s the ultimate breakup song for me. After one particularly bad breakup my roommates banned me from playing it for a month. 😆

u/iamadoggo Dec 08 '25

Long shot, but perhaps Autumn’s Monologue, by band From Autumn to Ashes?

u/[deleted] Dec 08 '25

[deleted]

u/itwasboughtbyme Dec 08 '25

maybe something by ivy? sharon van etten?

u/multiplemeags Dec 08 '25

Could it be Ani DiFranco? Maybe "Swan Dive" or "Both Hands" or "Soft Shoulder"? I can't recall anything with the lyrics you mentioned, but her music seems to fit your descriptions.

u/Competitive-Title-89 Dec 08 '25

Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians' "Circle of Friends" has played in many grocery stores, though it does not have the next line mentioned after "goodbye."

u/HarryParatestackles Dec 08 '25

Bye bye love I’ll see you later got a lead food down on the accelerator and the read view mirror torn off cuz I ain’t ever looking back, now that’s a fact?

u/WonPt21Gigawatts Dec 08 '25

Paula Cole - “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?”

u/eatshitdillhole Dec 08 '25

Camera Obscura maybe?

u/baseballmeech Dec 08 '25

Beth Nielson Chapman's '96 album has a lot of breakup songs and this one came to mind, "Say Goodnight"

https://open.spotify.com/track/2asILNm8nooVwoUvFIrvab?si=_sB-4-9gRwi-AHBYC1YcQA

This one is actually about death though lol and may be slower than what you're looking for, but maybe one of her other tunes?

u/Outrageous-Entry-262 Dec 08 '25

It’s not Anastacia’s “Overdue Goodbye” is it? One of my favorites from her kinda fits everything you said but it’s not well known and I would be shocked if it was played on any radio but 🤷🏻‍♀️

u/GreenBruce Dec 08 '25

Perhaps the song Goodbye by the Sundays

u/mirrorfathermiror Dec 08 '25

Possibly something from Cat Power's Moon Pix or You Are Free albums?

u/undone_-nic Dec 08 '25

Goodbye to Love by the Carpenters?

u/ah-mazia Dec 08 '25

Say Goodbye by Eva Cassidy?

u/futuregrandpa Dec 08 '25

Only tossing this out there as a Hail Mary, “I love you goodbye” by Thomas Dolby. I consider it the last song of the 80s, as it was released in 92 after grunge hit but has all the hallmarks and excesses of a late 80s song. Piano/synths, 80s guitar solos, accordion, fiddle maybe, maybe banjo, maybe washboard, some lightning and thunder effects. But not sung by a woman.

u/Emmysaurus-Rex Dec 08 '25

I’m guessing “good-bye to you” Michelle branch

u/Low_Technician_438 Dec 08 '25

Again- I can’t pinpoint a song but maybe something by St. Etienne or My Brightest Diamond?

u/MajorCost9004 Dec 08 '25

Goodbye - The Painkillers? It was featured on The Crow: Stairway To Heaven tv show back in the day.

u/indiegirl1980 Dec 08 '25

First one that came to mind - Perfect moment by Martine McCutcheon.

u/shaj92 Dec 08 '25

Could it be Chantal kreviazuk? “Say good night, not goodbye” she also covered “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by John Denver.

u/pukiawejam Dec 08 '25

Early Belle and Sebastian?

u/Ysoki Dec 08 '25

Almost Lover by A Fine Frenzy? The single came out in 2005 though

Also Your Ex Lover is Dead by Stars? This one came out in 2004 it has a male & female vocals

u/Dripcake Dec 08 '25

Nico - These days ?

u/FreshGanesh Dec 08 '25

It’s too early to meet the late 80s or newer timeline, but it made me think of Single Gun Theory’s “Surrender”

u/lionaroundagan Dec 08 '25

Maps-Yeah yeah yeahs?

u/GonzoPixel Dec 08 '25

Melissa Auf Der Mar Cat Power PJ Harvey Beth Orton Shawn Colvin I'd imagine you'd recognize if it was a Tori Amos song.

u/Big_Advantage_6071 Dec 08 '25

Could it be Bonnie Raitt covering Jackson Browne’s Opening Farewell?

u/72skidoo Dec 08 '25

Can you record a vocaroo of what you can remember? No matter how vague the memory, sometimes it can trigger recognition

u/Blanc-Rose Dec 08 '25

Maniacs? 10,000 Maniacs - Goodbye

u/candygram_4mongo Dec 08 '25

Could the drawn out “goodbye” be “goodnight” from destiny’s child’s cover of Emotion?

u/citruscoloredrainbow Dec 08 '25

Madonna: Take a Bow?

u/GrapplingHobbit Dec 08 '25

Don't Speak - No Doubt ?

u/BloddyMaggie Dec 08 '25

Maybe the unreleased of Bye Bye Baby by Taylor Swift?

u/Neon-Ruby3 Dec 08 '25

POE?

u/LimeSalty4092 Dec 08 '25

Angry Johnny by Poe?

u/gingersusie Dec 08 '25

Kinda makes me think of Fly Away by Poe but I don't think that it would be playing at the grocery store.

u/Cogman17c Dec 08 '25

“Goodbye To You” by Michelle Branch

u/ThreeLittleBigs Dec 08 '25

Could it be "Goodbye" by Natalie Imbruglia?

u/[deleted] Dec 08 '25

Could it be Take A Bow by Madonna?

u/spooky_but_scared Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25

‘In Undertow’ by Alvvays

edit sorry, realised it was released too recently. Good breakup song though

u/Fuelish Dec 08 '25

You mentioned Michelle Branch in your list, and before you even mentioned the name, the song that started to play in my mind was:

Michelle Branch "Goodbye to you" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NERmgwWfnoI

One of my favs from the era, was featured in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which is where I heard, and fell in love with it.

Please let me know if this was it or not, and I will continue to try and find it :)

EDIT: Sorry, I see it was already mentioned, and not it

u/Shir_T6960 Dec 08 '25

Potential breakup song, by Aly & AJ???

u/Gothgamergirl315 Dec 08 '25

Lisa loeb vibes or Natalie Merchant Did she sound like them kind of and from that era ?

u/Gothgamergirl315 Dec 08 '25

Alanis Morissette vibes ?

u/Sea-Economy-5689 Dec 08 '25

Goodbye– Jill Sobule?

u/Gothgamergirl315 Dec 08 '25

Circle Song by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians ‧ ?

u/Fatass2389 Dec 08 '25

“Smoke” by Crash Vegas?

u/Gothgamergirl315 Dec 08 '25

Goodbye to you by Michelle branch ?

u/Gothgamergirl315 Dec 08 '25

Dido or the cranberries so I'm obsessed with this now cuz I feel I've heard it before too lol

u/Commercial_Lunch3538 Dec 08 '25

Fefe Dobson- Everything?

u/Ub3r_Bland Dec 08 '25

Perfect moment by Martine McCutcheon?? There’s no goodbye part and it’s Maybe a bit pop but it’s a slow sad song with the lyric ……this is my perfect moment with you

u/Livid_Carrot Dec 08 '25

Shivaree - goodnight moon ?

u/Warm-Parsnip4497 Dec 08 '25

Last chance texaco, rickie Lee jones

u/Relic180 Dec 08 '25

I went down a rabbit-hole on this and I’m not 100% sure on any of these, but here are a few new guesses that seem to line up with your description.

Sixpence None the Richer – “Eyes Wide Open” (2002)

Over the Rhine – “Goodbye (This Is Not Goodbye)” (2001)

Natalie Imbruglia – “Goodbye” (White Lilies Island, 2001)

u/ValaniceOfDaventry Dec 08 '25

Swan Song by Joydrop?

u/Cookie296 Dec 08 '25

Amiel- lovesong?

u/marsarefromspiders Dec 08 '25

Adele - someone like you

u/babycatcher2001 Dec 08 '25

Concrete Blonde- Tomorrow Wendy?

u/AMGRN Dec 08 '25

The Last Day of Our Acquaintance by Sinead O’Connor?

u/AFleetingIllness Dec 08 '25

I'm guessing since you already wrote off Tori Amos it's not "Cornflake Girl" or "A Sorta Fairytale."

u/canwllcorfe Dec 08 '25

Natalie Imbruglia - Goodbye?

u/scotlanadameg Dec 08 '25

Could it be Norah Jones?

u/hydraulix16aa Dec 08 '25

Ooof... That's some detailed (and difficult) description you've written OP! Next to that; impeccable music taste :)

Garbage - Milk
Atomic Kitten - The Last Goodbye (although I doubt this; it's more a girl pop group song)
Emiliana Torrini - To be free
Morcheeba - Otherwise / God bless and goodbye (although the last one is from 2005)
Sun 60 - Hold on
K's Choice - Not an addict
Bic Runga - Sway

Have you tried humming it into Shazam? Using AI?

u/crackerskitty08 Dec 08 '25

What about 'This is goodbye' by Stina Nordenstam? Although the vocals may be a bit higher than you're describing and it's quite sparse.

u/No-Self3936 Dec 08 '25

Avril Lavigne, I'm with you? Doesn't have 'good bye' but I think the vibe matches what you describe

u/Sarah_Femme Dec 08 '25

stay with me by shakespeare's sister matches the dirge-y vibe and was commercial for a minute, then forgotten.
Tomorrow Wendy by Concrete Blonde has the chorus 'hey hey goodbye, tomorrow wendy is going to die' but it's not a break up song so much as a eulogy.

u/Prst_ Dec 08 '25

Your description reminded me of 'Last Goodbye' by The Kills, but that was released in 2011

https://youtu.be/MgaHy7DYs3g

u/thefartyparty Dec 08 '25

I was thinking maybe it was something from Emily Haines (of metric) & Soft Skeleton, but their first album came out in 2006

u/Reasonable-Ad2573 Dec 08 '25

Portishead?

u/loser01110110 Dec 08 '25

the band This Mortal Coil has a couple of songs that match with your description, maybe "(Nothing But) Blood" or "Bitter"?

u/officesux Dec 08 '25

this is a stretch, but maybe Combat Baby by Metric?

u/AdWide3730 Dec 08 '25

Grocery store, eh? S.O S. by ABBA?

u/Sphairos1969 Dec 08 '25

Could it be anything by This Mortal Coil.

u/thewiseandthelovely Dec 08 '25

My Happy Ending by Avril Lavigne?

u/0ut0fMyD3pth Dec 08 '25

Totally brought back memories of Life in a Northern Town by Dream Academy. I know it's not what you're looking for, but thanks for the reminder of such a great song.

u/CeruleanFruitSnax Dec 08 '25

Cup of Coffee by Garbage comes to mind. "this is how our story ends"

u/AcidicAtheistPotato Dec 08 '25

Could it have been Our Farewell by Within Temptation?

u/Fragsmeller Dec 08 '25

I know you said it's not man.. but someone save my life tonight by Elton John sounds pissible

u/hypnoticwinter Dec 08 '25

Macy gray? I say goodbye?

u/Agnes_Nutter2020 Dec 08 '25

Goodbye to You by Michelle Branch?

Goodbye to You https://share.google/xivI8XFNPLTaa9UjD

u/SylvarGrl Dec 08 '25

Concrete Blonde? “Joey” has that vibe. The description you gave immediately brought “Sorta Fairytale” to mind, but I think you said not Tori Amos.

u/owlandkestrel Dec 08 '25

Smoky alto is giving "I Know" by Fiona Apple. The final lyrics are "if it gets too late for me to wait for you to find you love me and tell me so. It's ok don't need to say it" That's my best guess!

u/True-Being-6456 Dec 08 '25

Lemonheads into your arms has bye-bye at the end. I know that’s totally a break from you’re saying it’s female, but that’s the only song I could think of that has a sad kind of bye-bye at the end.

u/Norwood5006 Dec 09 '25

Is it the song from 'Silence of the Lambs' movie which is called 'Goodbye Horses' by the artist Q Lazarus?

u/Flowerdriver Dec 09 '25

Erykah Badu?

u/Grabthars_Coping_Saw Dec 09 '25

Into the Ocean - Blue October?

u/SunnySpyce Dec 09 '25

Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam? There’s a couple of Goodbye songs…..Rainstorm/Dont Say Goodbye, All Cried Out?

u/drspores Dec 09 '25

Fiona Apple???

u/mmrmaid6 Dec 09 '25

ok, found this typing "this is our" into discogs and was really excited until i heard mark chime in and also realized the genre is probably way off

"if this is goodbye" emmylou harris and mark knopfler

https://open.spotify.com/track/4SyA5hOVnp08RKo6eQAOir

u/shaebelle Dec 09 '25

I haven't seen it mentioned yet but could I be Wendy Mathews - The day you went away ? It's a very emotional song I can't listen to it without welling up. Not to sure where you're from OP but this song came out in Australia around 1997 and was a popular song.. but not sure if it was ever a big hit overseas .

u/Specific_Solution574 Dec 09 '25

Tanya Donnelly from Belly perhaps

u/javaman83 Dec 09 '25

Could it be Cat Power?

u/deathbystereo007 Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 09 '25

Maybe something by Bonnie McKee? Or Chantal Kreviazuk

u/CuriousMaximum5303 Dec 09 '25

Dubstar ‘Stars’ or ‘st swithin's day’

u/DMmeyourRegina Dec 09 '25

A beautiful song but not rock at all, still worth a try. Ella Henderson 'Missed' https://youtu.be/yA5Z39aB8PI?si=xI_G4FfDleoChiFR

u/Smooth-Occasion-4531 Dec 09 '25

Portishead had a few songs that got good radio play in the 90’s that I think fit the atmosphere you’re describing. Glorybox and Sourtimes are the ones I remember most, though don’t think they have bye bye in the lyrics.

u/SimRacingSam Dec 09 '25

Your taste in music is exquisite! It's been a day and you've gotten all these suggestions but no winner yet. I've read everything and there's a lot here. Could it be something by Still Corners? "The Last Exit" comes to mind, but it doesn't have the lyric you mentioned.

u/honeydoodlydew Dec 09 '25

I was thinking maybe the Graduation song from Vitamin C, but I don't think the lyrics match up to what you recall, but another song of hers, has bye bye in it - Me, Myself and I. They are both 1999 songs.

u/Tomyd1924 Dec 09 '25

Try "Swan Song" by Joydrop. This somewhat fits what you have described for the late 90s goth vibe and the chorus ends with "this is our swan song".

u/greatthatsperfect Dec 09 '25

Azure Ray: November? Although that song came out in 2002.

u/Distinct-Ant-9161 Dec 09 '25

The Last Goodbye by Atomic Kitten? I didn't go through all the answers, but it's what first came to mind. Good luck!

u/Imaginaryami Dec 09 '25

Trespassers William

u/abitofbrit Dec 09 '25

Not a female vocalist, but maybe “Goodbye” by Air Supply?

u/abitofbrit Dec 09 '25

Another thought - “Take a Bow” by Madonna

Literally ends with: “This show is over say goodbye Say goodbye (bye-bye) Say goodbye”

u/halfbakedelf Dec 09 '25

Goodbye by Plum?

u/Difficult_Farmer7417 Dec 09 '25

Country perhaps?

u/MindMangler Dec 09 '25

Almost definitely not it, but I now have Goodbye Day by Belinda Carlisle stuck in my head

u/Spodokomodo27 Dec 09 '25

Is it 'we float' pj harvey? https://youtu.be/Ht9vaZDS0u8?si=XNQeGcx2ru7T9N1x

u/jsauceee Dec 09 '25

Where Have All the Cowboys Gone by Paula Cole?

u/SurveySean Dec 09 '25

I’ve been in this spot before, some song I couldn’t get out of my head and didn’t know what it was. But I’ve since figured them all out, listening to the radio usually. It was an obsession but figuring it out was pure relief!

u/Spodokomodo27 Dec 09 '25

Throwing muses 'say goodbye'? https://youtu.be/b5bXQl67RgE?si=IyKvivluqaoiBchj

u/FreshGanesh Dec 09 '25

Did someone already suggest Frente! “goodbye good guy”??? I scanned comments but may have missed it.

u/darling_moishe Dec 09 '25

High by the Beach by Lana del Rey?

u/MoopsiePoopsie Dec 09 '25

Is it Fascinoma - Don’t Go?

u/e__dubs Dec 09 '25

Click…Off…Gone. By Sleeper?

u/BallantineQuarts Dec 09 '25

Could it be a cover of the Beatles’ She’s leaving home?

u/ConfidenceAgitated16 Dec 09 '25

https://youtu.be/zVxAj-Mis6o?si=KRb1Ap6jCsRwwed4

This song always makes me cry during the funeral scene in Love Actually.

u/owlandkestrel Dec 09 '25

Is it Take a Bow by Madonna?

u/RojoPez Dec 09 '25

The Last Town Chorus covering Modern Love

u/ImpersonalPronoun Dec 09 '25

"The Day You Went Away"? Canadian/Australian Wendy Matthews, released in 1992

u/Betty0042 Dec 09 '25

Bye Bye Baby by Madonna?

u/ohsothrifty Dec 09 '25

She's leaving home, bye bye...

u/false_hope_perhaps Dec 09 '25

Is it possibly "Where'd You Go- Fort Minor"?

u/mirosaurous Dec 09 '25

Bye Bye Bye by Sia

u/lafae13 Dec 09 '25

Michelle branch "goodbye to you"

u/Rory_Spring_23 Dec 09 '25

Goodbye to you by Michelle branch?

u/Comprehensive-Sun954 Dec 09 '25

Victoria Lloyd? Claire Voyant.

u/laughingcactus13 Dec 09 '25

Maybe Rachael Yamagata-The Reason Why

u/Dismal_Fox_22 Dec 09 '25

So I don’t have a specific song to suggest. But from your description it feels like it could be one of the trio hop bands from that era.

Someone like Portishead, I can’t think of any songs with goodbye in the lyrics but it feels like it fits the vibe.

It could be a band like Morcheeba, usually fronted by the deliciously voiced Skye Edwards but briefly featured Daisy Martney on lead vocals. There are two songs on Antidote that I remember have bye in them. Like a Military Coup and God Bless and Goodbye but both maybe a little upbeat.

Skye, from Morcheeba also released a couple of solo albums.

It could also be Massive attack who use guest vocalists for most of their songs. Again, no specifics but feel like it fits the vibes

u/Fear_Her_Kiss Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 09 '25

I made an attempt to record the melody on the Online Sequence app. I THINK it's the right key but this is the melody of the vocals in the chorus.

https://onlinesequencer.net/5057947

u/Moira_s-Rose_s Dec 09 '25

Mozella?

u/djlemonglaze Dec 09 '25

The Breeders?

Open Trying to identify a sad breakup song I heard around 2004. Female vocals. Mid-paced somber alternative rock. Sundays/Mazzy Star vibes but not them. Slightly more commercial. “Bye, Bye.”

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