Released: 2021
“Good in Goodbye” by Madison Beer is a cathartic anthem of liberation and self-reclamation. Through clever wordplay and emotionally charged lyrics, Beer delivers a powerful narrative of a toxic relationship, now ended, littered with frustrations, harsh betrayals, and above all, an empowering realization of her self-worth.
The song opens with the strong accusation, “You got blood on your hands. How do you plead?”. The use of terms related to crime and law underscores the gravity of the emotional offenses against Beer. “Boy, it’s like treason, how you treated me,” she continues, likening the relationship’s transgressions to a high crime against a nation, implying a deep breach of trust.
“It’s eight Mondays in a row, nine days of the week,” Beer uses this hyperbole to convey the exhausting, relentless nature of living with the toxicity. Her former lover’s “tantrums” and the consistent negativity he brought to the relationship, as seen in “All bitter, no sweet,” pushed her vibes down and worsened the emotional climate.
The chorus is a cleverly disassembled linguistics game. She wittily indicates the end of their relationship: “You put the ‘over’ in lover”, followed by “put the ‘ex’ in next”, gesturing towards a future that conspicuously doesn’t include him. Further, she highlights his role in their trouble: “Ain’t no ‘I’ in trouble, just the ‘U’ since we met.” The word “toxic” is used as a succinct summary of his impact on her life.
The refrain, “I ain’t even gotta try to find the G-O-O-D in goodbye,” uncovers her relief in the breakup – that, despite the pain, there’s a tangible promise of peace and freedom to look forward to. This sentiment translates into the overall message of the song: the end of their love story was necessary for Beer’s well-being and growth.
The lyrics also mention how she would have done anything for him (“I would take a bullet for you”) only to realize he was the one causing the harm (“Only to find out you are the one holding the gun”). This powerful metaphor emphasizes the betrayal and disappointment Beer felt due to her ex-partner’s actions.
Overall, Madison Beer’s “Good in Goodbye” is a potent portrait of a relationship gone sour, underpinned by deceit and toxicity. Through her heart-wrenching narrative and her eventual triumph over a dark phase, Beer sends an empowering message of self-worth, resilience, and the strength to walk away from a harmful bond. Pop music rarely gets more raw or candid than this.
