The Time Has Come (Pikachu's Goodbye)

The Time Has Come (Pikachu's Goodbye) is a song first featured in Pikachu's Goodbye, playing in the background of Ash's flashbacks about Pikachu. The song was also featured on the Pokémon 2.B.A. Master CD and during the end credits of Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias. An instrumental version played in at least three other anime episodes. In the Dutch version of the series, it was also played at the end of Bye Bye Butterfree, when flashbacks of him and his butterfree are shown.

Important flashbacks

Some of the flashbacks in the episode include:

• Ash and Pikachu's first electrifying (literally) meeting in Oak's Lab (Pokémon - I Choose You!)
• Pikachu anxious to re-battle Lt. Surge in Vermilion City Pokémon Center after his defeat (Electric Shock Showdown)
• Pikachu wanting to keep battling Sabrina in the Saffron City Gym against all odds (Haunter versus Kadabra)
• Ash and Pikachu running from a band of angry Spearow (Pokémon - I Choose You!)
• Pikachu beating Raichu by standing on its tail and avoiding Raichu's attack (Electric Shock Showdown)
• Ash capturing his third Pokémon, Pidgeotto, with Pikachu's help (Ash Catches a Pokémon)
• Ash trying to get Pikachu to battle A.J. (The Path to the Pokémon League)
• Ash and Pikachu saying goodbye to Butterfree (Bye Bye Butterfree)
• Ash and Pikachu as ghosts in the Pokémon Tower of Lavender Town (The Tower of Terror)
• Ash training Pikachu to battle his first Fighting opponent, Anthony's Hitmonchan (The Punchy Pokémon)
• Various hugs between Ash and Pikachu

Lyrics

I close my eyes and I can see the day we met,
Just one moment and I knew:
You're my best friend, do anything for you.

We've gone so far and done so much
And I feel like we've always been together.
Right by my side through thick and thin,
You're the part of my life I'll always remember.

The time has come,
It's for the best, I know it.
Who could have guessed that you and I -
Somehow, someday, we'd have to say goodbye.

You've helped me find the strength inside
And the courage to make my dreams come true.
How will I find another friend like you?

Two of a kind, that's what we are,
And it seems like we were always winning.
But as our team is torn apart,
I wish we could go back to the beginning.

The time has come,
It's for the best, I know it.
Who could have guessed that you and I -
Somehow, someway, we'd have to say goodbye.

Somehow today, we have to say goodbye.

Credits

• Lead vocal: Marti Lebow
• Guitars: Larry Saltzman
• Co-produced and arranged by John Siegler

Trivia

• This was the first song to be featured in an actual episode, outside of opening and closing songs.
• Sheet music for this song is included in the Pokémon 2.B.A. Master piano book, Pokémon Five-Finger Piano and Pokémon 2.B.A. Master: Recorder Fun!.
• The version used in the episode differs from the album version.

In other languages

Language		Title
Czech		Nadešel čas
Danish		Vi Må Sige Farvel
Finnish		Nyt aika on
French	Canada	Le moment est venu
	Europe	Le moment est venu
German		Es ist soweit
Hungarian		Eljött a perc
Norwegian		Vi Må Si Farvel
Polish		Nadszedł Czas
Portuguese	Brazil	A Hora Chegou (O Adeus de Pikachu)
	Portugal	A Hora Chegou (O Adeus De Pikachu)
Spanish	Latin America	Llego La Hora
	Spain	No Es Un Adiós
Swedish		Nu Står Vi Här

Pokémon Live! Characters: Ash • Misty • Brock • Pikachu • Jessie • James • Meowth Giovanni • MechaMew2 • Delia • Professor Oak Songs: You & Me & Pokémon • It Will All Be Mine • My Best Friends • Everything Changes Misty's Song • The Best at Being the Worst • Pikachu (I Choose You) • What Kind of Pokémon Are You? The Time Has Come • Double Trouble • Two Perfect Girls • I've Got a Secret • You Just Can't Win • Finale

This article is part of Project Music, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon song, CD and musician.