Beyond the Bubblegum: The Osmonds’ Hidden Soulful Plea
A soulful, psychedelic meditation on the enduring challenge of letting go.
There’s a moment in the Osmonds’ career—that vibrant, whirlwind period of the early 1970s—when the squeaky-clean image of the teen idol heartthrobs cracked, revealing something far more substantial and musically adventurous underneath. That moment is encapsulated perfectly by the track “Life Is Hard Enough Without Goodbyes,” a deep cut that remains a gem for those who ventured beyond the colossal hits like “One Bad Apple” and “Crazy Horses.” This compelling song was nestled on their groundbreaking 1972 album, Crazy Horses, released in October of that year.
Crucially, “Life Is Hard Enough Without Goodbyes” was an album track and was never released as a single, meaning it has no independent chart position. Its context lies within the Crazy Horses album, which marked a radical, rock-infused departure from their earlier bubblegum pop, ultimately peaking at number 14 on the Billboard Top LPs chart in December 1972. It’s important to remember this context; while their singles were smash hits, this track was part of an artistic statement that the brothers—Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, and Donny—were serious musicians striving to shed the teen idol tag and express a heavier, more complex sound.
The Story and the Sound
The Crazy Horses album was a conscious effort by the older Osmond brothers (Alan, Wayne, and Merrill, who are credited as composers and lyricists on various tracks) to break free. They wanted to write their own material, control their image, and lean into the hard rock and psychedelic soul they genuinely loved. This song, with its distinctive riff and unexpected “psychedelic soul” groove, is a testament to that ambition. It’s rumored to feature the kind of opening hook that makes you pause and wonder if you’ve stumbled upon a lost Motown or Stax session. The boys weren’t just covering hits anymore; they were creating their own brand of genre-blending rock.
The heart of “Life Is Hard Enough Without Goodbyes” lies in its deeply resonant, mature lyrical theme. It’s a poignant reflection on the sheer difficulty of separation and loss in life. The meaning is deceptively simple: life presents enough hardships and struggles without the added, intentional pain of saying goodbye to those you love. For fans who grew up alongside the brothers, this track speaks to the universal pang of emotional finality—whether it’s the end of a relationship, the departure of a friend, or perhaps even a nod to the changing landscape of their own musical career. It carries a heavy, almost weary sense of acceptance, a soulful cry against the inevitable goodbyes that life forces upon us. It asks a profound question about emotional resilience and the unnecessary cruelty of self-inflicted or avoidable farewells.
It’s the sheer emotional weight and musical sophistication of the track that makes it so enduring. For listeners who were coming of age in the tumultuous early ’70s, this wasn’t the joyful, clean pop they expected; it was a moody, introspective, and utterly relatable piece of musical expression from a band determined to grow up right along with their audience. It’s a beautifully sung piece, showcasing Merrill Osmond’s incredible range and power, layered over a production that surprises with its grit and soul. It’s a nostalgic look back at a time when even the most celebrated teen groups yearned for artistic credibility and poured their hearts into album tracks, giving us a deeper, lasting connection that transcends the memory of screaming fans and glossy magazine covers.