The Big Goodbye

About

The Big Goodbye was written by Robbie Williams and Los Angeles-based songwriter Martin Page in 2009 and later recorded as a duet with Ronan Keating for Keating’s 2020 album 2020. Williams originally composed the song as a tribute to Boyzone member Stephen Gately, who died that year at the age of 33. Keating released it on 24 July 2020, where it appeared as one of the album’s most personal tracks.

Page had first developed an instrumental demo with a rough vocal guide, including phrases such as “everybody’s got an old soul” and “everybody’s gone a little crazy”. Williams responded strongly to the piece, writing new lyrics and recording a complete version with Page and producer Bobby Summerfield in Los Angeles. Years later, Williams rediscovered the demo while watching Boyzone on television and offered the song to Keating for his album.

The final studio version was produced by Stephen Lipson and reached number two on the UK Albums Chart. Williams’s vocal appears in the bridge, his tone contrasting with Keating’s smoother delivery. Fans later heard Williams’s full demo on Page’s podcast, revealing a more emotional and unfiltered performance that highlighted the lyric’s sincerity and loss.

I got an email from Rob saying, “I’ve seen you boys on the telly, and I forgot that I wrote this song ten years ago about Stio, and I put it away. I’m standing in the kitchen with tears coming down my face listening to the song.”Keating

With its melodic 1980s sensibility and elegiac theme, The Big Goodbye stands among Williams’s most tender compositions. The line “Please don’t follow me, I’ll wait for you” encapsulates the song’s quiet message of remembrance and acceptance. Though issued under Keating’s name, it remains a poignant example of Williams’s lyrical depth and empathy as a songwriter.