The Long Goodbye (song)

"The Long Goodbye" is a song written by Irish singer-songwriters Paul Brady and Ronan Keating for Brady's 2000 album Oh What a World. In 2001, it was covered by country music duo Brooks & Dunn for their album Steers & Stripes. Ronan Keating released his version in April 2003 as the last single from his album Destination (2002).

Track listing
Promotional CD single
"The Long Goodbye" – 3:57

Brooks & Dunn version

"The Long Goodbye" was recorded by country music duo Brooks & Dunn for their album Steers & Stripes (2001). The single was Number One hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts, and a #39 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Background
Ronnie Dunn was initially challenged by this song. "For me, I didn't know if I could sing some of these songs, if I could get inside them. So I'd take the tracks home...Paul Brady's demo of 'The Long Good-bye was intimidating...How do you do that? I'd work in my barn, explore the songs, try things, really learn where the song wanted to go, where I wanted to go."

Critical reception
Chuck Taylor, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably saying that the song has more of a pop flavor than most of their other music. Taylor also says that Dunn's "earnest emotion exudes quiet desperation mixed with knowing acceptance."

Charts
"The Long Goodbye" debuted at number 53 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for the week of October 27, 2001.

Year-end charts

Ronan Keating version

"The Long Goodbye" was released as the fourth and last single from Irish singer-songwriter Ronan Keating's second studio album, Destination. The single version was produced by Stephen Lipson. The single peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, number 10 in Ireland, and reached the top 50 in Australia, Austria, Germany, and New Zealand.

Track listing
UK CD1
 "The Long Goodbye" - 4:44
 "Love Won't Work (If We Don't Try)" - 3:31
 "This Is It" - 4:03
 "The Long Goodbye" (Video) - 4:40

UK CD2
 "The Long Goodbye" - 4:44
 "We've Got Tonight" (Feat. Jeanette) - 4:11
 "Love Won't Work (If We Don't Try)" (Video) - 3:31

UK cassette
 "The Long Goodbye" - 4:44
 "The Long Goodbye" (Bimbo Jones Vocal Mix) - 6:18

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

External links
 

Category:2001 singles
Category:2003 singles
Category:Billboard Hot Country Songs number-one singles
Category:2001 songs
Category:Brooks & Dunn songs
Category:Ronan Keating songs
Category:Songs written by Ronan Keating
Category:Songs written by Paul Brady
Category:Arista Nashville singles
Category:Polydor Records singles
Category:Country ballads
Category:Pop ballads
Category:Song recordings produced by Mark Wright (record producer)
Category:Rykodisc singles