There are so many theories on what this song is about, it boggles the mind!

The song was written by Supertramp’s Rick Davies, with vocals by Rick and Roger Hodgson, and was the second single release from the album, “Breakfast in America.”

Critics raved about it: Billboard loved the “near falsetto vocals, dominant keyboards and strong melody line.” Cash Box praised the “blithe, spirited instrumentation.” Many considered Roger’s guitar solo at the end of the song to be one of the greatest of all time.

On the charts, it reached #15 on Billboard’s Hot 100…but it did even better in Canada, peaking at #6 on their Top 40 and #9 on the Adult Contemporary Chart.

All that, and STILL no one could agree on what the song was about back then , and even today!

Many believe it’s about—let’s call them–ladies of the evening…or at the very least one night stands.
Others point out the lyric, “Goodbye Mary, Goodbye Jane,” and say it’s obviously about giving up marijuana. Still others think it’s about leaving the church, while some are convinced it’s about tension between Rick & Roger.

Supertramp drummer Bob Siebenberg has said it’s strictly about the ladies…and that Mary and Jane were just a couple of names they used in the song with no hidden meanings.

But, amazingly, even though Bob played on the track, not everyone agrees with him!

In a strange way, the whole discussion is proof that “Goodbye Stranger” is a “Great Song of 1979.” After all, it’s 46 years old…and people are STILL trying to figure it out!