"Never Say Goodbye" is a song by American rock

Rock music

Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...

 band Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...

, written by Jon Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder, occasional rhythm guitarist, and lead singer of rock band Bon Jovi, which was named after him...

 and Richie Sambora

Richie Sambora

Richard Stephen "Richie" Sambora is an American rock guitarist, producer, musician, singer, and songwriter who is the longtime lead guitarist of the rock band, Bon Jovi. He and frontman Jon Bon Jovi form the primary songwriting unit of the band...

. It was released as the fourth single off the band's album, Slippery When Wet

Slippery When Wet

Slippery When Wet is the third studio album by Bon Jovi, released in August 1986 by Vertigo Records. Slippery When Wet was an instant commercial success. The album features songs that are today considered as Bon Jovi's most well-known tracks such as "You Give Love a Bad Name", "Livin' on a Prayer"...

, in August 1987, and reached number 11 on the Mainstream rock

Mainstream rock

Mainstream rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada.-Format background:...

 charts and number 21 in the UK Singles Chart

UK Singles Chart

The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...

. Unlike the album's previous three singles, "Never Say Goodbye" did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100

Billboard Hot 100

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

.

The song was featured on some versions of the band's Cross Road

Cross Road

Cross Road is a greatest hits compilation released by the American band Bon Jovi in 1994. The album contains hits from between Bon Jovi and Keep The Faith and two new tracks: the hit singles "Always" and "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night", as well as a new, updated rendition of "Livin' on a Prayer"...

greatest hits album and is still occasionally performed live by the band in concert.

A cover of the song in Mandarin Chinese was recorded by Taiwanese rock group Power Station

Power Station (Taiwanese band)

Power Station is a Taiwanese rock band, formed by two brothers. Their music is characterized by their fast-paced rock ballads, as well as their electrifying rock anthems. Their looks and long hair stand out from the mainstream Chinese pop scene because of their resemblance to typical western Heavy...

 and released in 2009.

Song style

"Never Say Goodbye" is a power ballad

Power Ballads

Power Ballads is the debut album by Aqueduct. It was recorded by Trent Bell at Bell Labs and self-released on February 25, 2003. After releasing the album, frontman David Terry relocated to Seattle, Washington. Twelve hours after Terry's arrival in Seattle, Aqueduct opened for Modest Mouse...

, featuring drawn out vocals and a slow tempo, in contrast to the other tracks on "Slippery When Wet", which are of a much more upbeat, hard rock pace. The song describes the relationship of Jon Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder, occasional rhythm guitarist, and lead singer of rock band Bon Jovi, which was named after him...

 and his actual wife Dorothea, and how he wished her in his side at that moment.

This song is often used as the class song at prom nights, especially in New Jersey. Jovi claims that his inspiration for the song was the Southside Johnny

Southside Johnny

Southside Johnny is an American singer-songwriter, who usually fronts his band Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes.-Early days:...

 song "Hearts of Stone".

The song is in the key of A major and progresses to C# minor G and D major.

Track listing

• Original US Release (Mercury 888 806-7, August 14, 1987)

1. "Never Say Goodbye"
2. "Edge of a Broken Heart
   Edge of a Broken Heart
   "Edge of a Broken Heart" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was one of the songs written during the making of the album, Slippery When Wet, but was not featured on the final version of the album...
   
   "
   • Original European Release (August 13, 1987)
3. "Never Say Goodbye"
4. "Shot Through the Heart" (Live)

US & UK CD "Re-Release"

1. "Never Say Goodbye"
2. "Social Disease"
3. "Edge Of A Broken Heart"
4. "Raise Your Hands"

Chart performance

Chart (1987)	Peak position
Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks	11
UK Rock Chart UK Rock Chart The UK Rock Chart usually refers to the Top 40 Rock Singles and the Top 40 Rock Albums Chart compiled by the Official Charts Company from physical record sales in British retail outlets with larger than average genrespecific sales....	21