Let Me Go (3 Doors Down song) explained

"Let Me Go" is a song by American rock band 3 Doors Down, released on November 22, 2004, as the lead single from their third studio album, Seventeen Days (2005). The song peaked number 14 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Modern Rock Tracks charts, and number six on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Writing

According to lead singer Brad Arnold, "Let Me Go" was originally written for the Spider-Man 2 soundtrack but didn't end up in the film's soundtrack.^[1] Arnold explained that "we liked it so much, we kept it for ourselves." Arnold wanted to keep the song, "because it also had meaning to me personally."^[2] Lyrically "Let Me Go" is a break-up song.

Music video

The music video was directed by Wayne Isham and features actors Jodi Lyn O'Keefe and Jesse Metcalfe as two young high school students whose relationship seems to be the ideal, but which soon is shattered by a devastating secret. Jodi appears to be nothing more than the average all-American type on the surface, but her secret night job as a stripper at a strip club called Jumbo's Clown Room shows a different side. Jesse, upon realizing this, acts coldly and eventually separates from her. The rest of the video shows them both showing remorse over this hasty decision. At the very end, Jesse discovers that Jodi's night efforts was only being used to support her final secret: her young baby daughter. Throughout the clip, the band is seen performing on a rainy city street illuminated with several backlights. In an interview with 3 Doors Down, it was revealed that a later idea was that Jodi hated being a stripper.

Track listings

US promo CD^[3]

1. "Let Me Go" (rock version) – 4:00
2. "Let Me Go" (alternate version) – 4:00

UK 7-inch single^[4]

A. "Let Me Go" (rock version) – 4:00

B. "Be Somebody" (acoustic) – 3:18

Australian CD single^[5]

1. "Let Me Go" – 4:00
2. "Be Somebody" (acoustic) – 3:18
3. "Kryptonite" (live) – 4:14
4. "That Smell" (live) – 6:01

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Let Me Go"!Chart (2005)!Peak
position

Australia (ARIA)[6]	55
Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records)[7]	7
Canada Hot AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)[8]	2
Greece (IFPI)[9]	37
UK Singles (OCC)[10]	133

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Let Me Go"!Chart (2005)!Position

Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[11]	97
US Billboard Hot 100[12]	38
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[13]	5
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[14]	12
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[15]	35

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United States	November 22, 2004			[16]
	January 3, 2005			[17]
Australia	March 7, 2005	CD		[18]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Brad Arnold from 3 Doors Down : Songwriter Interviews. Songfacts. www.songfacts.com. en. September 17, 2019.
2. Web site: Official Site. Union. Wonderful. 3 Doors Down. en. September 17, 2019.
3. Let Me Go. 3 Doors Down. 2004. US promo CD liner notes. Universal Records, Republic Records. UNIR 21362-2.
4. Let Me Go. 3 Doors Down. 2005. US 7-inch single sleeve. Universal Records, Republic Records, Island Records. MCS40423, MCS40423.
5. Let Me Go. 3 Doors Down. 2004. Australian CD single liner notes. Universal Records, Republic Records. 9880055.
6. 279.
7. R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30. Radio & Records. 1609. 26. June 3, 2005. October 15, 2020.
8. R&R Canada Hot AC Top 30. Radio & Records. 1604. 50. April 29, 2005. May 16, 2024.
9. Web site: Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 27/2–5/3. IFPI. el. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050303003841/http://www.ifpi.gr/chart03.htm. March 3, 2005. July 3, 2020. See Best Position column.
10. Web site: Chart Log UK 1994–2010 !!! – 99th Floor Elevators. Zobbel. April 5, 2019.
11. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2005. Top 40. December 7, 2019.
12. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 2005. Billboardtop100of.com. December 7, 2019.
13. 2005 The Year in Music & Touring: Hot Adult Top 40 Songs. Billboard. 117. 52. YE-76. December 24, 2005.
14. 2005 The Year in Charts: Top Mainstream Top 40 Songs. Billboard Radio Monitor. 13. 50. 26. December 16, 2005.
15. 2005 The Year in Charts: Top Modern Rock Songs. Billboard Radio Monitor. 13. 50. 52. December 16, 2005.
16. Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1582. 21. November 19, 2004. May 20, 2021.
17. Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1587. 13. December 31, 2004. May 20, 2021.
18. Web site: The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 07/03/2005. ARIA. 29. March 7, 2005. dead. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080222222428/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20050320-0000/issue784.pdf. February 22, 2008. May 20, 2021.