Born and raised in Liverpool, Nelson's passion for music was nurtured from an early age within his musically inclined family and through his involvement with the Liverpool Cathedral Choir. His deep-rooted love for music eventually led him to pursue a solo career.
In 2015, Nelson, then known as Raines, released his debut single "Ghosts." Shortly after, he adopted the moniker BANNERS and released his breakout single "Shine a Light" in August 2015. The song quickly gained traction, peaking at number 5 on the Billboard Canada Rock chart and number 71 on the Canadian Hot 100.
BANNERS signed with Island Records in 2016 and released his self-titled debut EP, produced by Stephen Kozmeniuk, in January of that year. The EP featured the previously released singles "Shine a Light" and "Start a Riot," along with two new tracks. The EP went on to debut at number 67 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart. The singles "Start a Riot" and "Half Light" amassed millions of streams, while "Someone to You" surpassed 1.5 billion streams.
BANNERS has since toured with notable acts such as Milky Chance and POP ETC, performed on national television shows like American Idol and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and had his songs featured in numerous films and TV shows.
In October 2019, BANNERS released his highly anticipated debut studio album, Where the Shadow Ends, which was preceded by the singles "Got It In You" and "Where the Shadow Ends." The album showcased BANNERS' continued growth and versatility as an artist and was supported by a successful North American headline tour.
BANNERS' music has resonated with audiences worldwide, with his songs often described as anthemic, haunting, and inspiring. Nelson's emotive vocals and heartfelt songwriting contribute to the sincere and organic nature of his music. Drawing comparisons to Coldplay's Chris Martin, his music possesses a timeless quality that fosters a sense of community and connection.
Nelson's aspiration is to create music that becomes the soundtrack to moments in people's lives, fostering a deep emotional connection with his listeners. As he continues to evolve as an artist, BANNERS strives to deliver songs that uplift and resonate, offering a respite and inspiration to all who listen.
Let Go
Banners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You tell me you love me then you bring me to my knees
Torn away, fall from Grace
The water will rise, wash all your lies out to sea
So why did you take my heart?
My heart?
Let go
Into the unknown
Let go
And God only knows
I won′t
Let go
Wicked games and I'm your slave
If you don′t love me then why don't you set me free?
So why did you take my heart?
My heart?
Let go
Let go
Into the unknown
Let go
And God only knows
I won't
Let go
High water and the levee′s breaking
(High water and the levee′s breaking)
I tried, but it's not worth saving
(I tried, but it′s not worth saving)
Shore lights and I just might make it
Shore lights and I just might make it home
And I won't
Let go
Let it go
Let go
Let it go
In Banners's song "Let Go," the lyrics express a troubling relationship where the singer is being kept in an unhealthy situation with someone they love. The opening lines, "All I was, a shadow of / You tell me you love me then you bring me to my knees," describe a toxic and codependent relationship. Despite professing love, the person makes the singer feel weak and powerless.
The chorus is a plea for release, repeating the phrase "Let go" four times. The singer wants to break free from the relationship and venture into the unknown. The repetition of the phrase indicates a deep longing to be free from the toxic influences that are keeping them stuck.
The bridge describes the impending chaos with the line "High water and the levee's breaking." This metaphorical image suggests that the situation is about to go out of control. Even though the singer has tried to fix the situation, they realize that it's not worth saving. They guide themselves towards the shore's light, suggesting they've found a way out and that they will make it home.
Line by Line Meaning
All I was, a shadow of
I was merely a reflection of you, lacking any true substance of my own
You tell me you love me then you bring me to my knees
You say you have feelings for me, but your actions hurt me deeply
Torn away, fall from Grace
I have been separated from what once made me whole and am now lost in my misery
The water will rise, wash all your lies out to sea
Eventually the truth will come out and your deceitful actions will be exposed
So why did you take my heart?
I gave you my all, what did you gain from taking my love?
Let go
Release me from the hold you have on me
Into the unknown
Let me move forward, without knowing what the future holds
And God only knows
Only the higher power truly understands the depth of my pain
I won′t let go
I refuse to give up on what we had, as painful as it may be
Wicked games and I'm your slave
You manipulate me with your cruel actions and I feel powerless to resist
If you don′t love me then why don't you set me free?
Why keep me trapped in this toxic relationship if you don't truly care about me?
High water and the levee′s breaking
My emotions are overflowing like a river and I can't hold it back anymore
(High water and the levee′s breaking)
My heart is breaking and there's no stopping the pain
I tried, but it's not worth saving
I put in effort to make this work, but now I realize it's not worth the struggle
(I tried, but it′s not worth saving)
Despite my efforts, this relationship is beyond repair
Shore lights and I just might make it
I see a glimmer of hope in the distance and it gives me the strength to keep going
And I won't let go
I will hold onto that hope and keep moving forward, refusing to give up on finding happiness
Let it go
Finally, it's time to release these negative emotions and move towards a brighter future
Let go
I am ready to let go of the past and embrace all the possibilities the future holds
Writer(s): Stephen Kozmeniuk, Mike Nelson
Contributed by Oliver T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Chris
LYRICS
[Verse 1]
All I was, a shadow of
You tell me you love me then you bring me to my knees
Torn away, fall from Grace
The water will rise, wash all your lies out to sea
So why did you take my heart? My heart
[Chorus]
Let go
Let go
Into the unknown
Let go
And God only knows
I won't let go
[Verse 2]
Wicked games and I'm your slave
If you don't love me then why don't you set me free?
So why did you take my heart? My heart
[Chorus]
Let go
Let go
Into the unknown
Let go
And God only knows
I won't let go
[Bridge]
High water and the levee's breaking
(High water and the levee's breaking)
I tried but it's not worth saving
(I tried but it's not worth saving)
Shore lights and I just might make it
Shore lights and I just might make it home
and I won't
[Chorus]
Let go
Let it go
Let go
Chris
LYRICS
[Verse 1]
All I was, a shadow of
You tell me you love me then you bring me to my knees
Torn away, fall from Grace
The water will rise, wash all your lies out to sea
So why did you take my heart? My heart
[Chorus]
Let go
Let go
Into the unknown
Let go
And God only knows
I won't let go
[Verse 2]
Wicked games and I'm your slave
If you don't love me then why don't you set me free?
So why did you take my heart? My heart
[Chorus]
Let go
Let go
Into the unknown
Let go
And God only knows
I won't let go
[Bridge]
High water and the levee's breaking
(High water and the levee's breaking)
I tried but it's not worth saving
(I tried but it's not worth saving)
Shore lights and I just might make it
Shore lights and I just might make it home
and I won't
[Chorus]
Let go
Let it go
Let go
Axis
I thunk in the bridge it's an "and I won't" not but \^^/
inapickle
Axis It is, you are right. :)
Alexis Jimenez Quintero
SENKAY s
Remni
Please never stop making music, BANNERS. Each and every song of you fills up my heart with joy <3
Dina M ZOV 🇷🇺
Mine too❤👍
Lolo Alaidaroos
Why are people neglecting this masterpiece??!!!!
Souvik Sarkar
Every single song of yours feels so good and different. Sometimes I just feel you don't know how to make bad music at all.
Mukta Kunjeer
That in itself is a great talent like honestly...
Sara Hernández
La voz de este hombre es única, no solo eso su música tiene una gran calidad y ese algo llamativo, no se porque no es reconocido, sin duda merece mas reconocimiento, me encanta que saque nueva música :3