The emotions that fueled “GHOST TOWN” were pulled from observing a friend’s toxic relationship and the development of his own emotional maturity. “I saw the situation from an outside perspective and wondered what they could have done differently.” Ultimately, the song is about making tough decisions. “Love can hurt more than it can help,” the rising pop artist says. “Sometimes the best way of showing someone you care is by letting them go.”
Incredibly, “GHOST TOWN” was one of the first songs Boone ever wrote. “I was in an Uber on the way to my first recording session in Los Angeles,” he remembers. For inspiration, the newcomer skimmed through texts from his unlucky-in-love friend. “The melody and lyrics just popped into my head.” Afraid to lose his train of thought, the teenager sang the chorus into his phone in the back of the car. “It was a little embarrassing,” he laughs. “The driver wondered what I was doing.”
It turns out Boone has a habit of being very, very good at things without realizing it. Growing up in Monroe, Washington, the budding hitmaker spent most of his time outdoors. In fact, his latent musical talent only emerged by coincidence. “I went to a Jon Bellion concert right before COVID,” he remembers. “I watched him perform and felt like I understood him. It had a huge impact on me.” Around the same time, Boone was asked to sing in a friend’s band and wowed everyone including himself. “It’s a once in a lifetime event to discover a hidden talent. It was so freeing to be able to express myself.”
Now, the singer/songwriter is making up for lost time. “I want people to see that I take music seriously,” Boone says. So much so that he plays multiple instruments on “GHOST TOWN” including the drums, guitar and piano, an instrument that he picked up by ear. Boone even drew the cover art. “I used white charcoal on black paper,” he says. “The drawing took about five hours.”
That DIY approach is also reflected in the “GHOST TOWN” video. “I didn't want to go with a typical love story,” he says. Instead, the breakthrough artist went back to his hometown and hung out with friends. “We went cliff jumping and hiking, we went to lookouts,” he says. “Just the normal things I did growing up.” It’s the kind of highly personal content he shares with fans on TikTok. “I started out posting funny videos and daredevil stuff,” Boone says. Once the late bloomer discovered his singing voice, he started using the platform quite differently.
“Social media is the biggest opportunity to get people to know you personally,” he says. “Hopefully, they will not only like my music, but they'll understand and like me as a person, so I'm more than just a song to them.” That desire to connect with fans authentically is why he stepped away from American Idol, despite wowing judges at auditions. “It was a very hard choice,” Boone admits. “I didn't really know who I wanted to be as an artist yet, and I didn't want to show the world someone I'm not.”
It turned out to be a wise move. Shortly thereafter, he connected with Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds and was invited to collaborate with the chart-topping rock star in Las Vegas. “It was really scary and intimidating,” he remembers. “But it was the greatest three days of my life.” Before long, Boone had signed to his Night Street label in conjunction with Warner Music. “I knew Benson was special when I met him, he just draws you in,” Reynolds says.
“It was our first writing session together when I realized he's a once in a generation talent,” the Imagine Dragons hitmaker continues. “He has this innate sense of melody and vocal ability that blew me away.” Reynolds has since become a mentor, sharing advice from his journey to the very top of the music industry including the importance of growing and evolving as an artist.
“As I develop, I'm going to move towards self-production,” Boone says. “It's going to be an expression of what I feel, what I go through and what I'm thinking. I hope my music changes over time because I'm always changing.” One thing that will remain the same is his emphasis on vocals: “The voice carries so much emotion.” Citing artists like Lewis Capaldi and Adele as influences, the rising star wants to move people with his powerful pipes.
While Boone is still at the very beginning of his music journey, he’s in it for the long haul. “Working hard and writing good songs are the most important things to me,” he says. “I'm trying to learn as much as I can about who I am and what kind of music I want to write.” His goal is to engage with fans authentically and make songs that stand the test of time. With “GHOST TOWN,” the singer/writer takes an auspicious first step towards achieving it.
Let Me Go
Benson Boone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're the reason I choke
On the words that I wish I had said
You're the feeling of home
Smell of smoke on my coat
Miss you over, and over again
Everybody says I'll survive, I'll be fine
If it doesn't wake you up
In a violent sweat and steal your breath
If it doesn't make a cut
That just won't close, it wasn't love
So let me go
Did you learn how to drive?
Are you somewhere tonight
With someone trying to paint over me?
Oh, it hurts but it should
It hurts but it's good
'Cause the best kind of love scars' deep
If it doesn't wake you up
In a violent sweat and steal your breath
If it doesn't make a cut
That just won't close, it wasn't love
So let me go
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
So let me go
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
So let me go
I'll survive, I'll be fine
But they don't know what it's like
If it doesn't wake you up
In a violent sweat, steal your breath
If it doesn't make a cut
That just won't close, it wasn't love
So let me go
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
So let me go
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
So let me go
The lyrics of Benson Boone's song "Let Me Go" capture the essence of a painful breakup and the lingering emotions that come with it. The singer portrays their former partner as the cause of their inner turmoil, represented by the lump in their throat and the feeling of choking. They express regret for not being able to express their true feelings and carry the scent of their memories together, symbolized by the smell of smoke on their coat.
Despite everyone's assurance that they will eventually heal and move on, the singer believes that others cannot truly understand the depth of their pain. They describe true love as something that wakes you up in a cold sweat, takes your breath away, and leaves a wound that refuses to heal. Anything less than that intensity is not considered love in their eyes. They request to be released from the grip of a love that doesn't meet these criteria, asking to be let go.
The second verse reflects on the aftermath of the breakup. The singer wonders if their former partner has moved on and is with someone else, possibly trying to erase their memories together. They acknowledge that the pain is necessary in the healing process, highlighting the idea that deep love leaves lasting scars.
In conclusion, "Let Me Go" delves into the raw emotions and longing felt after a breakup, emphasizing the intensity of true love and the importance of letting go when it falls short of those standards.
Line by Line Meaning
You're the lump in my throat
You're the presence that constantly causes me emotional distress and prevents me from expressing myself.
You're the reason I choke
You're the underlying cause of my inability to speak freely and confidently.
On the words that I wish I had said
On the thoughts and feelings that I deeply desire to express, but have been holding back.
You're the feeling of home
You provide me with a comforting and familiar sense of belonging and security.
Smell of smoke on my coat
The lingering scent of smoke on my clothes reminds me of you and the memories associated with you.
Miss you over, and over again
I constantly yearn for your presence and find myself longing for you repeatedly.
Everybody says I'll survive, I'll be fine
People around me assure me that I will overcome this and move on with my life.
But they don't know what it's like
However, they fail to truly understand the depth of my emotions and the pain that I'm going through.
If it doesn't wake you up
If it fails to jolt you awake from your slumber
In a violent sweat and steal your breath
Causing you to experience intense fear or anxiety, leaving you breathless
If it doesn't make a cut
If it doesn't create a deep emotional wound
That just won't close, it wasn't love
That continues to hurt and affect me deeply, then it wasn't true love
So let me go
Therefore, allow me to move on and release me from this emotional burden
Did you learn how to drive?
Have you acquired the ability to move forward and navigate through life without me?
Are you somewhere tonight
Are you currently in a different place, away from me, living your own life?
With someone trying to paint over me?
Are you with someone new, trying to replace or forget about the presence I used to have in your life?
Oh, it hurts but it should
Oh, it causes pain, but it's only natural
It hurts but it's good
Although it causes pain, it's ultimately beneficial for my personal growth and healing
'Cause the best kind of love scars' deep
Because the most profound form of love leaves lasting emotional wounds
I'll survive, I'll be fine
I will endure and eventually recover from this emotional hardship
Ooh oh oh, ooh oh oh
Vocalization expressing emotional distress and longing
So let me go
Allow me to move on and free myself from the emotional ties
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Benson Boone, David Arkwright, Justin Gamella, Nolan Winfield Sipe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nicolefaria770
You're the lump in my throat
You're the reason I choke
On the words that I wish I had said
You're the feeling of home
Smell of smoke on my coat
Missed you over, and over again
Everybody says I'll survive, I'll be fine
But they don't know what it's like
If it doesn't wake you up
In a violent sweat and steal your breath
If it doesn't make a cut
That just won't close, it wasn't love
So let me go
Did you learn how to drive?
Are you somewhere tonight
With someone tryna page over me?
Oh, it hurts but it should
It hurts but it's good
'Cause the best kinda love scars' deep
If it doesn't wake you up
In a violent sweat and steal your breath
If it doesn't make a cut
That just won't close, it wasn't love
So let me go
Oh-ooh-ooh
Oh-ooh-ooh
So let me go
Oh-ooh-ooh
Oh-ooh-ooh
So let me go
I'll survive, I'll be fine
But they don't know what it's like
If it doesn't wake you up
In a violent sweat and steal your breath
If it doesn't make a cut
That just won't close, it wasn't love
So let me go
Oh-ooh-ooh
Oh-ooh-ooh
So let me go
Oh-ooh-ooh
Oh-ooh-ooh
So let me go
@madcad789
This EP was definitely worth the wait. Thank you for blessing my ears with incredible beautiful lyrics and a talented voice. You are gonna make it big benson🤍
@madelaineblossoms6029
L
@NikkiMarie9088
You ain't lying!!! ❤ 💯
@jroze5382
Um, this is his debut album. And his new one is coming out on April 5.
@user-sl2dj8yp5x
No matter how hard you guard, what goes away will still go away. No matter how hard you resist, what comes will still come. The universe sometimes likes to joke.
@jackhoward9692
I agree
@paulinaslowakiewicz5103
Thank you Benson for spreading such love and talent. God bless you ❤️
@NikkiMarie9088
Rite?!!! I AGREE 💯 ❤❤❤
@Analittle
I can't do this, they literally passed their driving test yesterday and this just opened an unhealed wound, but I'm grateful for it (in a weird way?) I'm literally trying so hard not to sob out loud cause I live in a small apartment and my family's asleep... Literally every song on this EP makes me cry harder and harder
@leahdudash9421
Are you okay