I Can Never Say Goodbye

Reference to:
Macbeth
A play by William Shakespeare, 1605
Itself a take on Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles, 1577

Something Wicked This Way Comes
is also the title of a Ray Bradbury novel from 1962

Macbeth is such a dark play that it is considered bad luck to refer to it by name in theatre circles. Instead it is known as ‘The Scottish Play’.

Macbeth was a historical figure in Scotland. Shakespeare published Macbeth in 1605. He drew his inspiration freely from Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles of 1577. Robert is in good company!

In the play Macbeth starts as Thane of Glamis - a nobleman who governed land given to him by a king. Incited by Lady Macbeth, he kills the king, Duncan. The witches appear throughout the play, prophesying that another protagonist, Banquo will inherit the throne.

Macbeth goes to see the witches to see if they can make his kingdom secure.

Act 4 scene 1

The witches are around a cauldron adding unpleasant items, preparing a spell which is nearing completion.

Hecate appears soon - a goddess of dark places presiding over magic and spells. See Hesiod’s Theogeny for more.

From Line 35:

Witches ALL

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

SECOND WITCH

Cool it with a baboon’s blood.

Then the charm is firm and good.

[Hecate enters]

HECATE

O, well done! I commend your pains,

And everyone shall share i’ th’ gains.

And now about the cauldron sing

Like elves and fairies in a ring,

Enchanting all that you put in.

Music and a song.

Hecate exits.

SECOND WITCH

By the pricking of my thumbs,

Something wicked this way comes.

Open, locks,

Whoever knocks.

Enter Macbeth.

…

Spoiler alert!

Macbeth is later killed and beheaded in battle.

I Can Never Say Goodbye

Thunder rolling in to drown

November moon in cold black rain

As lightning splits the sky apart

I'm whispering his name

He has to wake up

Love's slipping away

Hear the bells beyond the sea

It's almost too late

Shadows growing closer now

And there's nowhere left to hide

And I can't break this dreamless sleep

However hard I try

I am down on my knees and empty inside