Introduction
Released on March 17, 1997, “Why Would I Say Goodbye” is the poignant fifth and final single from Brooks & Dunn’s fourth studio album, Borderline . Written by Kix Brooks (who takes lead vocals) and Chris Waters, the song stands out as one of the few singles led by Brooks rather than Ronnie Dunn .
Borderline, released in April 1996, was a major success for the duo—certified double platinum and yielding multiple hits including the #1 singles “My Maria” and “A Man This Lonely,” as well as the #2 “I Am That Man” . “Why Would I Say Goodbye” continued the album’s run of charting singles, reaching #8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs and #9 on Canada’s RPM Country Tracks .
Thematically, the song conveys a heartfelt recognition of a relationship’s end, built around the rhetorical question posed in its title—“Why would I say goodbye…” even as one senses that separation is inevitable. Its melancholic tone, combined with Kix Brooks’ warm, understated vocal delivery, brings a mature, lived‑in sensibility rarely heard among country ballads of the era . One listener aptly described it as “a defeated and resigned attitude… sounds like an actual older cowboy who’s finally accepted the fact that the relationship is unsalvageable and is ready to ride off into the sunset for good” .
Overall, “Why Would I Say Goodbye” enriches the Borderline album’s emotional palette, offering a reflective, introspective closing chapter that balances its more upbeat hits. Its authentic portrayal of heartbreak—and Brooks’ understated delivery—have helped it endure as a memorable and deeply felt moment in Brooks & Dunn’s catalog.
Video
Lyrics
I guess I lost my head last night
Kept on ’til I made you cry
Walked out with my stubborn pride
Wasn’t nothing you could do to stop me
I hit the road but I didn’t get far
Just drove around all night in my car
Now I’m not sure where to start
To tell you that I’m sorry
I just want to hold you
I don’t want to hurt you
I don’t want to leave
I just want to be with you
And after living alone, lost for so long
Finally found the love of my life
Why would I say goodbye
I don’t know what is is about the edge of a cliff
Makes we want to get so close to it
I guess this time I finally slipped
What a foolish way to end it
Maybe that’s why I’m back here now
Got both feet back on the ground
Hopin’ you won’t turn me down
When I ask you for forgiveness
I just want to hold you
I don’t want to hurt you
I don’t want to leave
I just want to be with you
And after living alone, lost for so long
Finally found the love of my life
Why would I say goodbye