With one of her first singles turning into a national hit, 1962's "Let Me Down Easy", Detroit-raised LaVette would seem a natural soul star, but she was never able to cut an album deal. In 1972 her album A Child of the Seventies was shelved by Atlantic Records, then thought lost forever in a fire. She eked out a living on the European festival circuit, occasionally surfacing such as with the disco single "Doin' the Best that I Can", but remained obscure until French soul collector Gilles Petard tracked down the lost masters and persuaded Atlantic to let him release them on his vanity label as Souvenirs. A live album and 2005's cover album I've Got My Own Hell to Raise followed.
With the release of The Scene of the Crime, Bettye Lavette inches closer to the mainstream, or at least a much bigger cult following. Backed by The Drive-by Truckers and released on -Anti, The Scene of the Crime is recorded at the legendary FAME studios in Muscles Shoals, Alabama. The same place as her lost album. The connection doesn't end there - Patterson Hood of the Drive-by Truckers is the son of David Hood, who played on the 1972 album.
In 2009, she appeared at President Barack Obama's Inaugural Celebration, singing "A Change Is Gonna Come" with Jon Bon Jovi. It was televised globally.
Let Me Down Easy
Bettye Lavette Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let me down so easy, baby, since you feel to stay isnt wrong
But its all over but the last goodbye, let me down easy, hmm
When you pass me by, say hello once in a while
When you pass me by, does it hurt so much to smile
But its all over but the last goodbye, let me down easy, baby
I remember at the start
It was so nice to think that we never had to part
But its all over but the last goodbye, let me down easy, baby
Hum hum hum hum,let me down so easy baby, let me down so easy baby
Let me down down down down, let me down so easy baby,oh oh oh
I dont want anyone of your love, baby, let me down down, let me down so easy
Baby, oh oh, let me down so easy
In Bettye Lavette's song Let Me Down Easy, the singer is pleading with their former lover to end things in a gentle and considerate way, despite the fact that their love for each other has faded. The singer is essentially asking for a sense of closure and an opportunity to move on. They acknowledge that their relationship is over, but they still long for a sense of kindness and care from their former partner. This is clear in lines like "Let me down so easy, baby, since you feel to stay isn't wrong" and "When you pass me by, say hello once in a while."
The repetition of the phrase "let me down easy" throughout the song highlights how important it is for the singer to have a sense of compassion and understanding from their former lover. They don't want to be blindsided or hurt further, but would rather have things end in a way that allows for mutual respect and dignity. Despite the sadness and heartbreak that comes with ending a relationship, the singer is willing to accept that it's time for them to part ways.
Overall, Let Me Down Easy is a poignant and emotional plea for closure and understanding from a former lover. The singer acknowledges the sadness and pain that ending a relationship can bring, but they are ultimately looking for a sense of kindness and compassion as they move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me down easy though your love for me is gone
Even though you don't love me anymore, please handle the breakup gently
Let me down so easy, baby, since you feel to stay isnt wrong
If you want to stay with someone else, it's okay, but please break up gently with me
But its all over but the last goodbye, let me down easy, hmm
Our relationship is already over, so please make the final goodbye gentle
When you pass me by, say hello once in a while
Even though we're no longer together, please still acknowledge my existence
When you pass me by, does it hurt so much to smile
Even a small smile would mean a lot to me, even though our relationship is over
But its all over but the last goodbye, let me down easy, baby
The relationship is already over, so please make the final goodbye gentle
I remember at the start, It was so nice to think that we never had to part
At the beginning of our relationship, it seemed like we would never have to break up
But its all over but the last goodbye, let me down easy, baby
The relationship is already over, so please make the final goodbye gentle
Hum hum hum hum,let me down so easy baby, let me down so easy baby
A repetition of the plea to be broken up with gently
Let me down down down down, let me down so easy baby,oh oh oh
Asking again to let the breakup be gentle
I dont want anyone of your love, baby, let me down down, let me down so easy
I don't want to be in a relationship with someone who doesn't love me, please break up gently
Baby, oh oh, let me down so easy
Reiterating the plea for a gentle breakup
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES MC DOUGAL, PAOLO GIOVANNI NUTINI, ROLLO ARMSTRONG, WRECIA HOLLOWAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind