“I Still Say Goodnight” by Tate McRae
“I Still Say Goodnight” possesses similarities to virtually all of the other tracks found on “I Used to Think I Could Fly”. For instance, once again the addressee, as implied, is the vocalist’s ex. Also the thesis sentiment, ultimately, is that she lacks the wherewithal or what have you to get over their past relationship, as expressed on “Go Away“, the track which precedes this on the playlist of the album.
Also embedded into this song, as with on “Boy X“, is the notion that the dissolution of the romance between the two of them was propagated by the addressee’s dishonesty.
Premise-wise, what Tate saying is that when the vocalist stopped wishing her goodnight, that’s when she really knew that their relationship was coming to an end. As revealed in the second verse, the signs were there beforehand, i.e. him not being supportive of her efforts nor really concerned for her feelings.
But that said, to this day “still say(s) goodnight”. And apparently, what that assertion is meant to point to is the idea that Tate has yet to get over the addressee even though, as relatedly expressed, he lost interest in her awhile back. So on top of her general heartbreak is also this feeling that she played herself by falling in too deep in the first place.
Credits for “I Still Say Goodnight”
Tate McRae wrote this song with Finneas, who also acted as the producer of the track. Finneas of course is not only the older brother of Billie Eilish but also a musician himself who was instrumental in making her a superstar. And Tate has admitted that Eilish’s hit 2019 album, “When We Fall All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” did inspire “I Used to Think I Could Fly”, i.e. the project that this song is derived from.
According to Tate, writing this song with Finneas (who is a huge inspiration to her) was a very incredible experience. She however, said she was nervous working with Finneas because he is an immensely talented artist. At the end of the day, she referred to the collaboration as an “honor” bestowed upon her.
Release Date
RCA Records released this song on May 27th, 2022. It is the 13th and final track on the tracklist of “I Used to Think I Could Fly”.
