--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are people who cannot say good-bye…" description: "\"“There are people who cannot say good-bye They are born this way/this is how they die They are the keepers of promises/what moves them does not wear ou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/merrit-malloy-18842_born-this-way_there-are-people-who-cannot-say-good-bye_744804.jpg" --- # There are people who cannot say good-bye They are born… ![“There are people who cannot say good-bye They are born this way/this is how they die They are the keepers of promises/what moves them does not wear out Their loyalty will tear apart your clocks These are the people who can hear the music in songs They are the Vow carriers The grandmothers who…” quote by Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/merrit-malloy-18842_born-this-way_there-are-people-who-cannot-say-good-bye_744804.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/merrit-malloy-18842_born-this-way_there-are-people-who-cannot-say-good-bye_744804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/merrit-malloy-18842_born-this-way_there-are-people-who-cannot-say-good-bye_744804.jpg) > ““There are people who cannot say good-bye They are born this way/this is how they die They are the keepers of promises/what moves them does not wear out Their loyalty will tear apart your clocks These are the people who can hear the music in songs They are the Vow carriers The grandmothers who always leave the porchlight on No one is lost to the one who sees These are the women widowed by men they never married These are the girls who wait even when you don't come These are the mothers of orphans/They can turn a fake into an original They will hear the prayer in your self-contempt As distance is measured/people do not end It is one of those stories that cannot be written down except across a lifetime of open doors There is a holding on beyond the letting go There is a reunion in everybody's chest This is how we come to make a family from strangers This is how we light candles These are people who will remember you when you meet them These are the people you can always call at night They are humans turned angels by your asking With each separation they go to seed again. These are the men who carried you on their shoulders This is the one your are lonely for the one who begins and ends your hunger This is the man who said "Always" There is something that does not wear out It is the third part of any two people who join It opens and closes There are people who are alone who are not apart This is why we listen to the madman when he speaks People change but they do not stop This is how we learn "Forever" There are people you can count on/They are the keepers of promises They are candles lit from each other They can teach us eternity We can get what we can give/This is the instruction There are people who do not say goodbye As distance is measured You are one of them”” [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poem celebrates steadfast, silent guardians who keep promises, love, and memory alive despite loss and distance, emphasizing enduring connection and quiet support. **In simple terms:** People who stay loyal and remember others even without words. Key Takeaway Cherish and honor those who quietly support you. Themes loyalty memory connection grief support Mood reflective hopeful nostalgic Type poetic inspirational emotional When to use this quote - family gatherings - grieving a loss - nighttime calls - long‑distance friendships - caretaking Key Concepts promise-keeping silent strength enduring love Questions to Reflect On - Who are the silent supporters in your life? - How can you acknowledge their unseen contributions? A Different Perspective Not everyone may recognize these subtle acts, leading to underappreciation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Born this way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-this-way/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [People change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-change/) ## Related quotes > [Do not allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put on some sunglasses because we were born this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/do-not-allow-people-to-dim-your-shine-because-they-are-blinded-tell/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [I think my personality is not because I was born this way but because I was raised this way. I was raised with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-anthony-towns/i-think-my-personality-is-not-because-i-was-born-this-way-but-because/) [Karl-Anthony Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-anthony-towns/) > [Choices lead to habits. Habits become talents. Talents are labeled gifts. You’re not born this way, you get this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/choices-lead-to-habits-habits-become-talents-talents-are-labeled/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [My mama told me when I was young we're all born SUPERSTARS!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/my-mama-told-me-when-i-was-young-we-re-all-born-superstars/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [There's nothing I can do about looking short. I'm born this way. And my face is on the long side so I look even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seungri/there-s-nothing-i-can-do-about-looking-short-i-m-born-this-way-and-my/) [Seungri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seungri/) > [I've created, directed and choreographed for Lady Gaga since the beginning, so 'Born This Way,' this was musically such an amazing evolution and such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurieann-gibson/i-ve-created-directed-and-choreographed-for-lady-gaga-since-the/) [Laurieann Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurieann-gibson/) > [I'm black because I was born this way. I'm proud of it. Thank God I am who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/i-m-black-because-i-was-born-this-way-i-m-proud-of-it-thank-god-i-am/) [Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/) > [“There was nowhere to go. This hate was everywhere, even in my bedroom. I choked out a sob and wondered why everyone thought I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-nacht/there-was-nowhere-to-go-this-hate-was-everywhere-even-in-my-bedroom-i/) Jackie Nacht > [No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I'm on the right track baby I was born to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/no-matter-gay-straight-or-bi-lesbian-transgendered-life-i-m-on-the/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“I am addicted to reading, I will never reach the end of my TBR list because it multiplies all by itself. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lani/i-am-addicted-to-reading-i-will-never-reach-the-end-of-my-tbr-list/) Lani > [I'm beautiful in my way 'cause God makes no mistakes. I'm on the right track baby, I was born this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/i-m-beautiful-in-my-way-cause-god-makes-no-mistakes-i-m-on-the-right/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [My fashion is part of who I am, and though I was not born with these clothes on, I was born this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/my-fashion-is-part-of-who-i-am-and-though-i-was-not-born-with-these/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [And it’s more. It’s about getting past that question of whats wrong with me, to knowing there’s nothing wrong, that you were born this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/and-it-s-more-it-s-about-getting-past-that-question-of-whats-wrong/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > ['Born This Way' is shaping up to be creative ecstasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurieann-gibson/born-this-way-is-shaping-up-to-be-creative-ecstasy/) [Laurieann Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurieann-gibson/) > [I'm a heterosexual. I don't know why I'm like this. I was just born this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/i-m-a-heterosexual-i-don-t-know-why-i-m-like-this-i-was-just-born/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) ## More by Merrit Malloy > [Letting people be okay without us is how we get to be okay without them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/letting-people-be-okay-without-us-is-how-we-get-to-be-okay-without/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [“Whatever it means, it matters, and most of it is true I loved every one of them and all of them...were you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/whatever-it-means-it-matters-and-most-of-it-is-true-i-loved-every-one/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [“Compromise...is simply When we change the question To fit the answer...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/compromise-is-simply-when-we-change-the-question-to-fit-the-answer/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [What we are is our parents' children; what we become is our children's parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/what-we-are-is-our-parents-children-what-we-become-is-our-children-s/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [“The Long Way Home Why is it when people feel they are losing each other they always leave each other? Why do people walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/the-long-way-home-why-is-it-when-people-feel-they-are-losing-each/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [When all that's left of me is love, Give me away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/when-all-that-s-left-of-me-is-love-give-me-away/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [“There is a great fear that plagues only romantics and children... it is that they might be alright alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/there-is-a-great-fear-that-plagues-only-romantics-and-children-it-is/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [The truth isn't what we say, it's how we feel when we say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/the-truth-isn-t-what-we-say-it-s-how-we-feel-when-we-say-it/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [What we might consider is how we are good rather than how good we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/what-we-might-consider-is-how-we-are-good-rather-than-how-good-we-are/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [“That One Man (from The People Who Didn't Say Goodbye) There is always that one man who you can't avoid that one face that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/that-one-man-from-the-people-who-didn-t-say-goodbye-there-is-always/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [“PRIVATE PRACTICES We may all get there...we may even arrive at the same time...but we all come alone”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/private-practices-we-may-all-get-there-we-may-even-arrive-at-the-same/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [“We grow to deserve what we need to believe... Since I've known you I've been careful not to pray out loud Wishes have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/we-grow-to-deserve-what-we-need-to-believe-since-i-ve-known-you-i-ve/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [Everything we say about other people is really about ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/everything-we-say-about-other-people-is-really-about-ourselves/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [What a gigantic step it is not to move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/what-a-gigantic-step-it-is-not-to-move/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [“Persistence can (sometimes) make things last but it doesn't always make things work. The muscle will harden wherever you give it exercise, but Endurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/persistence-can-sometimes-make-things-last-but-it-doesn-t-always-make/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) [Explore all 34 Merrit Malloy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) ## More Born this way quotes > [Do not allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put on some sunglasses because we were born this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/do-not-allow-people-to-dim-your-shine-because-they-are-blinded-tell/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > ['Born This Way' is shaping up to be creative ecstasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurieann-gibson/born-this-way-is-shaping-up-to-be-creative-ecstasy/) [Laurieann Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurieann-gibson/) > [And it’s more. It’s about getting past that question of whats wrong with me, to knowing there’s nothing wrong, that you were born this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/and-it-s-more-it-s-about-getting-past-that-question-of-whats-wrong/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [My fashion is part of who I am, and though I was not born with these clothes on, I was born this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/my-fashion-is-part-of-who-i-am-and-though-i-was-not-born-with-these/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [I'm beautiful in my way 'cause God makes no mistakes. I'm on the right track baby, I was born this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/i-m-beautiful-in-my-way-cause-god-makes-no-mistakes-i-m-on-the-right/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“I am addicted to reading, I will never reach the end of my TBR list because it multiplies all by itself. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lani/i-am-addicted-to-reading-i-will-never-reach-the-end-of-my-tbr-list/) Lani > [No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I'm on the right track baby I was born to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/no-matter-gay-straight-or-bi-lesbian-transgendered-life-i-m-on-the/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“There was nowhere to go. This hate was everywhere, even in my bedroom. I choked out a sob and wondered why everyone thought I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-nacht/there-was-nowhere-to-go-this-hate-was-everywhere-even-in-my-bedroom-i/) Jackie Nacht > [I'm black because I was born this way. I'm proud of it. Thank God I am who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/i-m-black-because-i-was-born-this-way-i-m-proud-of-it-thank-god-i-am/) [Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/) > [I've created, directed and choreographed for Lady Gaga since the beginning, so 'Born This Way,' this was musically such an amazing evolution and such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurieann-gibson/i-ve-created-directed-and-choreographed-for-lady-gaga-since-the/) [Laurieann Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurieann-gibson/) > [There's nothing I can do about looking short. I'm born this way. And my face is on the long side so I look even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seungri/there-s-nothing-i-can-do-about-looking-short-i-m-born-this-way-and-my/) [Seungri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seungri/) > [My mama told me when I was young we're all born SUPERSTARS!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/my-mama-told-me-when-i-was-young-we-re-all-born-superstars/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [Choices lead to habits. Habits become talents. Talents are labeled gifts. You’re not born this way, you get this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/choices-lead-to-habits-habits-become-talents-talents-are-labeled/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I think my personality is not because I was born this way but because I was raised this way. I was raised with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-anthony-towns/i-think-my-personality-is-not-because-i-was-born-this-way-but-because/) [Karl-Anthony Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-anthony-towns/) > [I'm a heterosexual. I don't know why I'm like this. I was just born this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/i-m-a-heterosexual-i-don-t-know-why-i-m-like-this-i-was-just-born/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) [Browse all 77 Born this way quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-this-way/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There are people who cannot say good-bye They are born this way/this is how they die They are the keepers of promises/what moves them does not wear out Their loyalty will tear apart your clocks These are the people who can hear the music in songs They are the Vow carriers The grandmothers who always leave the porchlight on No one is lost to the one who sees These are the women widowed by men they never married These are the girls who wait even when you don't come These are the mothers of orphans/They can turn a fake into an original They will hear the prayer in your self-contempt As distance is measured/people do not end It is one of those stories that cannot be written down except across a lifetime of open doors There is a holding on beyond the letting go There is a reunion in everybody's chest This is how we come to make a family from strangers This is how we light candles These are people who will remember you when you meet them These are the people you can always call at night They are humans turned angels by your asking With each separation they go to seed again. These are the men who carried you on their shoulders This is the one your are lonely for the one who begins and ends your hunger This is the man who said \"Always\" There is something that does not wear out It is the third part of any two people who join It opens and closes There are people who are alone who are not apart This is why we listen to the madman when he speaks People change but they do not stop This is how we learn \"Forever\" There are people you can count on/They are the keepers of promises They are candles lit from each other They can teach us eternity We can get what we can give/This is the instruction There are people who do not say goodbye As distance is measured You are one of them”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Merrit Malloy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/there-are-people-who-cannot-say-good-bye-they-are-born-this-way-this/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Born this way" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/there-are-people-who-cannot-say-good-bye-they-are-born-this-way-this/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/merrit-malloy-18842_born-this-way_there-are-people-who-cannot-say-good-bye_744804.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/merrit-malloy-18842_born-this-way_there-are-people-who-cannot-say-good-bye_744804.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/merrit-malloy-18842_born-this-way_there-are-people-who-cannot-say-good-bye_744804.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are people who cannot say good-bye They are born this way/this is how they die They are the keepers of…” — Merrit Malloy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Merrit Malloy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“There are people who cannot say...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/there-are-people-who-cannot-say-good-bye-they-are-born-this-way-this/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/there-are-people-who-cannot-say-good-bye-they-are-born-this-way-this/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```