Don't Go Away

Background and composition

Although "Don't Go Away" appears for the first time in 1997, its origins date back to 1993, when Oasis spent time with The Real People at their studio in Liverpool. "Don't Go Away" was included in a batch of songs written under the wing of the Griffiths brothers (which also included "Columbia", "Rock 'n' Roll Star", "Rockin' Chair" and others).

Liam Gallagher claims to have cried whilst recording the song, as a result of dwelling on "a certain thing". He said, in a 1997 interview, "I just thought 'fuck that, I can't be singing this song' and I had to go away and sort myself out". Listening back to the song he admits to being very proud of his vocal performance.

In a 1997 interview promoting Be Here Now, Noel Gallagher had the following to say about the song: "It's a very sad song about not wanting to lose someone you're close to. The middle eight I made up on the spot -- I never had that lyric until the day we recorded it: 'Me and you, what's going on?/ All we seem to know is how to show/ The feelings that are wrong.' It's after a row. Quite bleak."

"We put Burt Bacharach horns on because he was the master of break-up songs. I did all the string arrangements. I tried to keep them as simple as possible. I like the way Marc Bolan used them on Children of the Revolution. People do remember string parts as separate hooklines, you know. You just don't want to use them slushily."

Crediting controversy

As many songs written during the time spent with The Real People, "Don't Go Away" shares similarities with one of brothers Griffiths' compositions, "Feel the Pain", both in music and lyrics. Lyrics in the chorus of "Don't Go Away" are lifted verbatim from "Feel the Pain". In an interview with Mojo magazine, Chris Griffiths states: "...there’s one called “Don’t Go Away” which is very similar to a song we had called “Feel the Pain” but I dunno how much I can say about that, la, you know what I mean?"

Artwork

The cover of the single features the old Liverpool Speke Airport building. The airport is famous as the scene at which thousands of hysterical fans greeted The Beatles on their return to Liverpool at the height of Beatlemania. Derelict at the time, it has now been turned into a hotel. The aeroplane is an Avro Lancastrian.

Scruton critique

The song is analysed by philosopher Roger Scruton in his book Modern Culture, in particular with reference to the line: "Damn my education, I can't find the words to say / About the things caught in my mind". Scruton writes, "Here, encrypted within the routine protest, is a more strangulated cry—a protest against the impossibility of protest. Trapped as he is in a culture that treats articulate utterance as a capitulation to the adult world, the singer can find no words to express what most deeply concerns him. Something is lacking in his world—but he cannot say what. He excites his fans to every kind of artificial ecstasy, knowing that nothing will be changed for them or him, that the void will always remain unfilled".

B-sides

The live version of "Cigarettes & Alcohol" was recorded 14 December 1997 at the G-MEX Exhibition Centre in Oasis' home town of Manchester.

"Sad Song" originally appeared as a bonus track on the vinyl release of the first Oasis album, Definitely Maybe. It also appeared on the Japanese CD edition of Definitely Maybe.

The 'Warchild' version of "Fade Away" is from The Help Album recorded in September 1995. It features Noel on vocals, and guests Johnny Depp on guitar, Kate Moss on tambourine and Liam and Lisa Moorish on backing vocals. All proceeds from that track went to Warchild Charities.

Track listing

1. "Don't Go Away" – 4:43
2. "Cigarettes & Alcohol" (Live from GMEX, Manchester, 14 December 1997) – 4:58
3. "Sad Song" – 4:16
4. "Fade Away" (Warchild version) – 4:08

1. "Don't Go Away" (Album Version) – 4:48

1. "Don't Go Away" (Single Edit) – 4:44 (lacks the initial drumstick hits found on the album version)