"Let Me Go" is a song by American rock band
3 Doors Down. It was released on November 22, 2004, as the lead single from their third studio album, ''
Seventeen Days'' (2005). The single reached number 14 on 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
Bradley Kirk Arnold (born September 27, 1978) is an American musician, best known as the lead singer and drummer (and only remaining original member) of the rock band 3 Doors Down.
Early life
Arnold grew up in Escatawpa, Mississippi. He w ...
, "Let Me Go" was originally written for the ''
Spider-Man 2
''Spider-Man 2'' is a 2004 American superhero film directed by Sam Raimi and written by Alvin Sargent from a story by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar and Michael Chabon. Based on the fictional Marvel Comics character of the same name, it is the ...
'' soundtrack but didn't end up in the film's soundtrack.
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."
Lyrically "Let Me Go" is a break-up song.
Music video
The music video was directed by
Wayne Isham
Wayne Isham (born December 2, 1958) is an American film director and music video director who has directed films and music videos of many popular artists.
Early life and education
Isham was born in December 2, 1958. He attended the Univers ...
and features actors
Jodi Lyn O'Keefe
Jodi Lyn O'Keefe (born October 10, 1978) is an American actress, model, and fashion designer. She came to prominence as Cassidy Bridges on the television series '' Nash Bridges'' (1996–2001) and played Gretchen Morgan on '' Prison Break'' (20 ...
and
Jesse Metcalfe
Jesse Eden Metcalfe (born December 9, 1978) is an American actor and musician. He is known for his portrayal of John Rowland on ''Desperate Housewives''. Metcalfe has also had notable roles on ''Passions'' and played the title role in '' John T ...
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
# "Let Me Go" (rock version) – 4:00
# "Let Me Go" (alternate version) – 4:00
UK 7-inch single
:A. "Let Me Go" (rock version) – 4:00
:B. "Be Somebody" (acoustic) – 3:18
Australian CD single
# "Let Me Go" – 4:00
# "Be Somebody" (acoustic) – 3:18
# "
Kryptonite
Kryptonite is a fictional material that appears primarily in Superman stories published by DC Comics. In its best-known form, it is a green, crystalline material originating from Superman's home world of Krypton that emits a unique, poisonous r ...
" (live) – 4:14
# "
That Smell
"That Smell" is a song by the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Written by Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Allen Collins, it was released in 1977 on the album ''Street Survivors''. At the time the song was written, the band had been using alcoho ...
" (live) – 6:01
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
References
{{Authority control
2005 singles
2005 songs
3 Doors Down songs
Island Records singles
Republic Records singles
Song recordings produced by Johnny K
Songs written by Brad Arnold
Songs written by Chris Henderson (American musician)
Songs written by Matt Roberts (musician)
Songs written by Todd Harrell