LET GO

"LET GO" by Central Cee is a raw and multifaceted exploration of heartbreak, regret, and the lingering obsession that can follow a painful breakup. The song's core meaning revolves around the classic adage of not knowing what you have until it's gone, a sentiment directly borrowed from the Passenger sample. However, Central Cee twists this gentle, folksy reflection into a modern, gritty narrative of a young man grappling with complex emotions. He oscillates between vulnerable confessions of depression and feelings of inadequacy, and aggressive, boastful displays of wealth and bravado. This juxtaposition highlights the internal conflict of trying to maintain a tough exterior while dealing with deep emotional pain. The song delves into the specifics of a toxic relationship, with the artist admitting he lost respect for his partner due to her manipulative behavior, yet he is still unable to erase her from his memory and senses. Ultimately, "LET GO" is about the messy and often contradictory process of moving on, where love, hate, longing, and resentment are all intertwined.

The song opens by interpolating the melancholic chorus of Passenger's "Let Her Go," immediately setting a tone of regret and the painful clarity that often follows loss. The lyrics convey the universal experience of not appreciating something until it's gone, applied here to a romantic relationship. The narrative then shifts to a more aggressive and raw perspective, typical of the drill genre. The artist directly addresses his ex-lover, questioning her decision to end the relationship with a crude and resentful remark.

In the first verse, he delves into the reasons for the breakup, citing that she tried to manipulate him, which caused him to lose respect for her. Despite this, he's haunted by her memory, admitting that even after changing his bedsheets, her scent lingers. He reveals a deep vulnerability, confessing that the relationship's end has left him feeling depressed and less of a man. He expresses disbelief at how invested he was in their future together, highlighting the pain of their last encounter, which ended abruptly. He reflects on his own optimism, wondering if he was naive to think they could have succeeded as a couple. The artist describes their connection as intensely complex, like "quantum physics," and feels a spiritual and energetic pull towards her. Even as he acknowledges the finality of their separation, he yearns for one last meeting. He feels empty despite the attention he receives from others, craving a more fulfilling connection. To escape the memories, he considers a drastic change of scenery, from the bustling city of London to a quiet rural village. The memory of her is so potent that even though he deleted her picture, the image is seared into his mind's eye. He resolves not to chase her, accepting that the relationship is over and irreparable.

The pre-chorus and chorus repeat, reinforcing the central theme of realizing love's value only after it's lost. The second verse takes a darker turn, as he admits to obsessively calling her from a private number, an act he himself describes as creepy. He's tried to move on by being with other women, but he can't get his ex out of his mind. He even wonders if she feels the same when she's with other men. His encounters with other women are devoid of intimacy and feel obligatory, a stark contrast to what he had. He details the impersonal nature of these new flings, highlighting his emotional detachment. He's frustrated and maddened by the thought of her with someone else, feeling a complete loss of control. In a moment of desperation, he sends her money, a transactional attempt to regain her attention and get unblocked. He's willing to pay for her love if she won't give it to him freely, a testament to his desperation. The verse ends with a boastful comparison of his wealth to her new partner's, a final, wounded assertion of his superiority.

"LET GO" was self-released by Central Cee as a single on December 15, 2022. The song is notable for sampling the 2012 hit "Let Her Go" by English singer-songwriter Passenger. The idea for the song gained significant traction after Central Cee posted a snippet on TikTok on December 8, 2022, which quickly went viral. Interestingly, the song was almost never released. Central Cee's girlfriend at the time, Madeline Argy, initially disapproved of the track because of the use of the word "ho." After a few days, she changed her mind and even posted a TikTok of herself singing along to the lyrics, giving her approval for its release. The song was produced by Nastylgia and KwolleM. The accompanying music video was directed by his long-term collaborator, Kunography, and was filmed at Alexandra Palace in London on November 22, 2022, just before his "Still Loading" concert at the venue.

"LET GO" employs a relatively straightforward rhyme scheme, often relying on couplets (AABB) within its verses, which is a common feature in rap music that helps to drive the narrative forward and maintain a consistent flow. For instance, in the first verse, "head" rhymes with "impressed," and "flesh" rhymes with "mess." Central Cee's rhythmic delivery is a key element of the song's style. He seamlessly transitions between a more melodic, singing-like flow during the chorus and a faster, more percussive rap style in the verses. This variation in rhythm adds dynamism to the track and reflects the shifting emotional states he describes, from melancholic reflection to angry frustration. The song is set at a tempo of 73 beats per minute (or 146 in double time), which provides a solid foundation for his vocal delivery. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the underlying drill beat, with its characteristic syncopated hi-hats and deep 808 bass, creates the song's signature sound.

"LET GO" showcases a blend of musical and literary techniques that contribute to its emotional impact. Musically, the song's foundation is built on the juxtaposition of the gentle, acoustic sample of Passenger's "Let Her Go" with the hard-hitting elements of UK drill, such as the 808 slides and hi-hat triplets. This creates a unique sonic tapestry that is both melodic and aggressive. Central Cee also employs a more melodic and singing-oriented vocal delivery on this track, which was a departure from some of his earlier, more straightforward rap flows. This melodic approach enhances the song's emotional vulnerability. The production, handled by Nastylgia and KwolleM, creates a "velvety drill banger" that is both atmospheric and rhythmic. Lyrically, Central Cee utilizes a direct and candid rhyming style, moving away from some of the bravado of his previous work to a more introspective and personal narrative. He uses a conversational and at times confrontational tone, directly addressing his ex-lover. The use of explicit language adds a layer of raw, unfiltered emotion to his lyrics.

"LET GO" was a significant commercial success for Central Cee, further cementing his status as a leading figure in UK rap. The song peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart and charted in numerous other countries, including France, where it reached number one. The track's popularity was fueled in part by its viral success on TikTok, where a snippet of the song gained massive traction before its official release. "LET GO" is also significant within Central Cee's discography as it showcases a more vulnerable and melodic side to his artistry, a departure from some of his harder drill tracks. The song's clever use of a well-known pop sample introduced his music to a wider audience and demonstrated his versatility as an artist. The single was certified Platinum in the UK in May 2024, signifying 600,000 sales. The success of "LET GO" contributed to Central Cee becoming the first UK rapper to achieve one billion Spotify streams in a single year (2022).

The most prominent literary device in "LET GO" is the direct sample and re-contextualization of Passenger's "Let Her Go." The original song's chorus, "You only know you love her when you let her go," acts as a recurring motif that frames Central Cee's narrative. While Passenger's song is a gentle, melancholic reflection on lost love, Central Cee uses it as a jumping-off point for a much more aggressive and conflicted emotional landscape. This creates a powerful contrast between the soft, melodic sample and his hard-hitting drill delivery.

Central Cee also employs vivid imagery and metaphors to convey his emotional state. The line, "I changed my bedsheets, but I still smell your flesh," is a potent sensory detail that symbolizes how deeply his ex-partner's presence is ingrained in his life, making it impossible to move on. He uses the metaphor of "quantum physics" to describe their chemistry, suggesting a connection that was both incredibly complex and intensely powerful. The act of sending his ex money is a desperate, transactional metaphor for his willingness to do anything to get her back, even if it means trying to buy her affection.

The most significant recurring element in "LET GO" is the sampled chorus from Passenger's "Let Her Go": "Well, you only need the light when it's burnin' low / Only miss the sun when it starts to snow / Only know you love her when you let her go." This motif appears multiple times and serves as the song's emotional anchor, constantly reminding the listener of the central theme of regret and the pain of hindsight. Central Cee then adds his own, more aggressive twist to this by repeatedly asking, "You said that pussy's mine, so why'd you let it go?" This recurring question highlights his feeling of betrayal and his struggle to understand his ex-lover's actions. Another recurring motif is the idea of his ex-lover's lingering presence, most notably expressed through the line, "I changed my bedsheets, but I still smell your flesh." This powerful image is repeated to emphasize his inability to escape her memory. The theme of financial flexing also recurs, particularly in the second verse when he offers to buy her love and compares his monthly earnings to her new partner's annual salary, showcasing his attempt to assert dominance and mask his emotional vulnerability.