The Meaning Behind “Irish Goodbye” by Kacey Musgraves and the Irish Exit Explained

Last week, Kacey Musgraves revealed the deluxe edition of her sixth studio album.

Deeper into the Well features seven bonus tracks, with appearances by Leon Bridges and Tiny Habits. “Irish Goodbye” is the closing track on the expanded version. In the song, Musgraves is bewildered after a confusing breakup.

But what exactly is an Irish goodbye?

Dating a Ghost

“Irish Goodbye” is the story of a failed relationship that left Musgraves asking what went wrong. Her partner leaves without a chance to reconcile things before breaking up.

Was I too much or was I a threat
To the vision you had, that you hadn’t found yet?
I gave you some space, ’cause I wanted to see
If I mattered enough, would you come back to me?

The singer offers to forgive, but she’s left hopelessly heartbroken by a vanishing lover. Meanwhile, she’s ghosted by her partner, adding confusion to her heartbreak.

You turned into a ghost, I wish you the best
Maybe one day you’ll know I was not like the rest
I want to respect you, and you know I tried
But there ain’t much respect in an Irish goodbye

A Global Goodbye

National etiquette expert Diane Gottsman told The Today Show, “An ‘Irish exit’ is another name for slipping out the back (or front) door seemingly unnoticed by the host.”

The origin of the Irish exit isn’t known and when it happens in other countries, it’s known as a “French exit,” or “leaving the English way,” depending on the country. It’s leaving without saying goodbye.

Electric Lady

“Irish Goodbye” was co-written and produced with Musgraves’ longtime collaborators Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk. They recorded Deeper into the Well at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

Musgraves appeared for the third time as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on March 2, 2024. She performed “Too Good to Be True” and “Deeper Well.” Apart from her own tour, Musgraves has also appeared onstage this year with Noah Kahan and Zach Bryan.

Healing Songs

A Kacey Musgraves album is endlessly warm. She’s become the master of offering music as a soothing elixir. If medicinal soft rock or tonic folk were categories at the Grammys, she’d win every time.

It’s unclear if “Irish Goodbye” is autobiographical, but ghosting has become so ubiquitous that it became a useful verb only in the early 2000s. Musgraves narrates a song about the disrespect of leaving without saying goodbye. But it’s more than etiquette. One wonders if they really meant so little.  

Still, the easy sounds of Deeper into the Well turn the harsh breakup into a pillowy-soft letdown. Musgraves sings over layered acoustic guitars recalling Nick Drake’s gorgeous “Pink Moon.” But that’s the thing about Musgraves, she makes even the zoomed-in moments seem vast, cosmic. And the pain, less sharp.

Goodbye, goodbye, Irish goodbye
It’s hard to forgive your Irish goodbye
Don’t know if I can, maybe I’ll try
But I’ll never forget your Irish goodbye

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Photo by Andy Von Pip/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock