“Say You Won’t Let Go” is a song by a British singer and songwriter named James Arthur. It came out as a digital download on September 9, 2016, in the United Kingdom, released by Columbia Records. It was the first single from his second studio album, titled “Back from the Edge,” released in 2016.
The song is about falling in love with someone at first sight and wanting to spend the rest of your life with them. The lyrics show a strong wish to stay dedicated to a loved one, even in the afterlife.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the meaning behind the lyrics.
“Say You Won’t Let Go” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
I met you in the dark, you lit me up
You made me feel as though I was enough
We danced the night away, we drank too much
I held your hair back when you were throwin’ up
In Verse 1, James Arthur describes meeting his lover in a dark setting where she made him feel special and worthy. They spent the night dancing and drinking together.
When she felt unwell and was throwing up, he cared for her by holding her hair back.
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Then, you smiled over your shoulder
For a minute, I was stone-cold sober
I pulled you closer to my chest
And you asked me to stay over
I said, “I already told ya
I think that you should get some rest”
In Pre-Chorus 1, James Arthur talks about how, after the night they met, the girl smiled at him as she looked back over her shoulder. This moment made him feel sober and more connected to her.
He held her close, and she asked him to stay with her. In response, he suggested she get some rest because he had already agreed to stay.
[Chorus 1]
I knew I loved you then, but you’d never know
‘Cause I played it cool when I was scared of letting go
I knew I needed you, but I never showed
But I wanna stay with you until we’re grey and old
In Chorus 1, James Arthur expresses his love for his girlfriend.
He mentions that even though he felt deep affection for her from the beginning, he tried to hide it by acting cool because he was afraid of showing his true feelings.
He admits that he needed her in his life, but he didn’t openly reveal it.
He expresses his desire to stay with her for a lifetime, growing old together.
[Post-Chorus]
Just say you won’t let go
Just say you won’t let go
In the Post-Chorus, James Arthur simply repeats the line “Just say you won’t let go.”
Here, he is emphasizing his desire for his girlfriend to commit to their relationship and not let go of their love.
[Verse 2]
I’ll wake you up with some breakfast in bed
I’ll bring you coffee with a kiss on your head
And I’ll take the kids to school, wave them goodbye
And I’ll thank my lucky stars for that night
In Verse 2, James Arthur describes his future plans with his girlfriend and his commitment to their relationship.
He talks about waking her up with breakfast in bed and showing affection by bringing her coffee and a morning kiss.
He mentions taking care of their children, saying goodbye to them as they go to school.
The line “And I’ll thank my lucky stars for that night” is an expression of how he believes that meeting her was a stroke of luck or destiny.
[Pre-Chorus 2]
When you looked over your shoulder
For a minute, I forget that I’m older
I wanna dance with you right now, woah
And you look as beautiful as ever
And I swear that every day, you’ll get better
You make me feel this way somehow
In Pre-Chorus 2, James Arthur talks about how, when his girlfriend looks over her shoulder, he momentarily forgets about the age difference between them (he’s older).
He expresses the desire to dance with her at that moment, emphasizing that she still looks as beautiful as ever to him.
He also believes that with each passing day, she becomes even more wonderful.
[Chorus 2]
I’m so in love with you and I hope you know
Darlin’, your love is more than worth its weight in gold
We’ve come so far, my dear, look how we’ve grown
And I wanna stay with you until we’re grey and old
In Chorus 2, James Arthur reaffirms his deep love for his girlfriend. He states that he’s truly in love with her and wants her to know how valuable her love is to him.
He mentions their journey of growth and how they have come a long way together.
He expresses his desire to stay with her until they both grow old, underscoring his commitment to a lasting and meaningful relationship with her.
[Bridge]
I wanna live with you even when we’re ghosts
‘Cause you were always there for me when I needed you most
In the Bridge, James Arthur expresses his desire to be with his girlfriend even beyond their lifetimes. He wants to continue their love even when they become ghosts.
He acknowledges her unwavering support during difficult times, emphasizing that she has always been there when he needed her the most.
[Chorus 3]
I’m gonna love you till my lungs give out
I promise till death we part, like in our vows
So, I wrote this song for you, now everybody knows
That it’s just you and me till we’re grey and old
In Chorus 3, James Arthur states that he will love his girlfriend until his last breath.
He promises to stay true to the vows they made, symbolizing a deep and unbreakable bond.
James reveals that he wrote the song for her, making their love public and expressing his heartfelt emotions to everyone.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Say You Won’t Let Go”
“Say You Won’t Let Go” symbolizes the idea of holding onto love, making it through the ups and downs of life, and not giving up on a cherished relationship.
James Arthur, who penned the song in Los Angeles, draws inspiration from both personal experiences and observations of people around him.
He told Genius: “The inspiration was to look at someone’s life and the path through it with a partner. Some of it is personal and some of it is inspired by people around me as well as imagining what life is like in other people’s relationships.”
The song explores the idea of finding a deep and lasting connection with someone. As the lyrics suggest, “I knew I loved you then, but you’d never know; ‘Cause I played it cool when I was scared of letting go,” it reflects the beauty of cherishing the small, intimate moments in a relationship, such as meeting someone special, dancing the night away, and caring for each other during vulnerable moments.
In the lyrics, the singer promises to love his partner unconditionally, even as they age together, as he says, “I’m so in love with you, I hope you know; Darlin’, your love is more than worth its weight in gold.” It’s a declaration of commitment, a pledge to stand by one another through life’s ups and downs.
The song serves as a reminder that love can be enduring and that it’s worth holding onto, even when faced with challenges.
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