Brian McKnight’s “Can’t Say Goodbye” Lyrics Meaning

Brian McKnight begins the song “Can’t Say Goodbye” by referencing “the mysteries of life”. And what he means specifically in that regard is that you can see a person fully alive and vibrant today, but then tomorrow he or she is no longer around. And he is bringing up this specific aspect of reality in relation to the untimely passing of basketball legend Kobe Bryant, who was only 41 at the time, on 26 January 2020.

Mr. McKnight was compelled to honor Kobe in song for a number of reasons.  For instance, in remembering the deceased he refers to him as his “brother”, meaning that they were very close. Indeed he and the Black Mamba had a personal relationship dating back a couple of decades. In fact Kobe dabbled in the professional music scene himself. And his feature on the remix of Brian McKnight’s track “Hold Me” (1998), which broke the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, was likely his most-successful outing in that regard. Moreover, as Brian McKnight has stated in relation to the creation of “Can’t Say Goodbye”, “the whole world”, figuratively speaking, appears to have been affected by the death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter “Gigi” – as Brian affectionately and personally refers to her as – and the others who passed away as part of that fateful helicopter crash.

Lyrics Praise Kobe Bryant

So accordingly the lyrics do praise Kobe. For instance, McKnight states that ‘someone like him only comes once in a lifetime’. 

But on a wider note, as alluded to earlier, this track is meant to espouse the idea of valuing our loved ones – and indeed our own lives – while we have to opportunity to do so. For the fact of the matter is that no one is promised tomorrow.

Primary Theme of “Can’t Say Goodbye”

So perhaps the best way of explaining this song is that yes, the singer obviously thought that Kobe was a special person whose presence on earth edified the lives of many people, including himself.  That is why he “can’t say goodbye” in a definitive manner, as he is having difficulty processing the death of such a unique friend. But the way that this individual whom he looked up to died so unexpectedly has also caused him to introspect. And in doing so, Brian has discovered a newfound appreciation of how much of a blessing being alive truly is.

Release Date of “Can’t Say Goodbye”

Brian McKnight debuted this song via YouTube on 3 February 2020.

Writing Credits

Mr. McKnight wrote the tune himself. However, he has interestingly stated that “he can’t take credit” for its penning because the song was responsible for writing itself.