"Gotta Go- Gotta Leave" -Inspired by Vivian Green

Premise: The song "I Gotta go. I Gotta Leave." by  Vivian Green came out the year of 2005 and somewhere during that time I had just become affiliated with "Poetry Over Music" as I was reintroducing myself  to my first love, poetry. Now, Poetry Over Music was a new movement to get people to listen and become again inspired by words first, then music. 

When I came along they were already strong in numbers of Poets and Spoken Word artists and had made a CD. They were not for sale, promotional items only, for people to enjoy. However, they were in the process of creating another CD, called Poetry Over Music presents "Different Shades of Love" Volume 2. Now, how it was set up for us, they sent out a list of songs and it was on a first come, first serve basis. 

So, you would pick your selection and if you got it first, you must write a poem for the song you you've selected. Record it, send it and they would play your poem then the song or vice versa. I, picked Vivian Green's "I Gotta Go. I Gotta Leave." I was featured on that CD and to my surprise, rave reviews and now it has become a fan favorite. I love this poem, it speaks to so many hearts, especially mine. Without further ado, I give you....

"I Gotta Go-I Gotta Leave"

I sing the chorus of Vivian Green's same titled song:

I gotta go. I gotta leave.
So please don't make this hard for me.
I gave enough. I'm tired of love
I gotta let it go.

--Then begin...

I've been with you more than a few years now;
 and I just realized, that I'm done. Just realized
that I've spread myself too thin. And,

Since no one is looking out for me, including you.
I decided that this victory belongs to you. 
So you win!!! (applause)

For a moment, (I ain't gonna' lie) I was mad at you.
But then I thought to myself, well why am I mad at him?
Because I'm the one who decided to stay and work things through.

Because I should have a left the minute I began to feel it in my gut.
That I had, had enough; and I was no longer in love.
Now, I got the nerve to be angry , 'cause I've invested my time,
Over exhausted my mind. Stayed with swollen eyes, due to you making me cry.

Emotionally drained.
Heart palpitating with pain.
All the while trying to please you. I was going insane.

But you know what else I realized?
It was fear why I stayed.
For I was using my tears as an outlet
So mine leaving would be delayed.

But a long time ago I once told you that.
When my tears no longer drop,
 that is when I have stopped
   to assess, to see what I need to do
      so that I can get where I need to be
            and I've concluded that;

I Gotta' Go-I Gotta' Leave

Written by Until...
2005 (c)


*This piece has been performed many places. The latter was Max  Bloom Cafe Noir on August 1st of 2015. Until was the leading feature. If you would like to know more about Until and purchase her very first poetry edition, I Just Want to Write! Please visit her website at www.untilnomore.net and her book blog at www.ijwtw.blogspot.com. If you would like to hear her very first Spoken Word Poetry CD, check out below: