Jimmy climbs on board that old yellow bus It sure looks big in his little eyes His mama waves as her tears kick off the dust It's never easy to say goodbye Julie Raye in her pearl white wedding gown Has found her wings and it's time to fly It's all her dad can do to keep from breaking down It's never easy to say goodbye It ain't easy to ever say goodbye It ain't easy lettin' go of the ones you love But believe me we'll meet again by and by If not here then somewhere up above I've had some friends that I lost along the way They've been called on down the line Though their time was short I think about them every day And it ain't easy to say goodbye It ain't easy to ever say goodbye... [ piano ] Now the time has come to go our separate ways And it's alright if you want to cry And though I know we'll meet again someday It's never easy to say goodbye It ain't easy to ever say goodbye...