1. an R&B performer … Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three artists known as Case.
1. an R&B performer from New York, NY, United States.
2. a British punk / ska / oi! band of the early 1980's (reformed in 2011)
3. a rapper, skateboarder and drummer from San Francisco, CA, United States
1. Case Woodard was born in New York City and was signed to Def Soul records. He first started working in the R&B industry as a backup singer, working with big name R&B artists like Usher. In 1996, Case released his self-titled debut album. The album featured "Touch Me Tease Me" with rapper Foxy Brown and R&B singer Mary J. Blige, the hit single from "The Nutty Professor". The single went gold, reaching #4 on the R&B charts and #14 on the Hot 100.
Case's second album,Personal Conversation, was released in 1999 and went gold. The album featured the hit single "Happily Ever After" which reached #3 on the R&B charts and #15 on the Hot 100. The album's other single, "Think Of You" failed to do well on the charts, managing to only reach #50 on the R&B charts.
Open Letter, Case's most well-known album was released in 2001. The album went gold, likely a result of the single "Missing You." "Missing You" is Case's only #1 single to date as it topped the R&B charts and reached #4 on the Hot 100.
After the success of “Open Letter”, Case moved to Atlanta to be closer to his children, and has over the last several years proven to be a real survivor. To say his seven years “away” from music have been interesting would be an understatement. In 2002 his true determination to survive was witnessed when Case accidentally shot himself in the throat. The bullet that went in through his throat and came out of the back of his neck was miraculously less than a centimeter away from paralyzing and killing him. To the shock of everyone around, Case was out of the hospital in four hours with just bandages around his neck.
With no damage done to his vocal chords Case continued to work on completing his fourth album, but due to professional differences Case asked to be released from Def Jam Records in 2004. He has since worked through the challenges of a changing music industry and partnered with manager Blue Williams to create and independent record label, Indigo Blue. Case is now poised to release his much anticipated album, The Rose Experience in Fall 2008.
A great deal of Case's success has been due to his appearance on movie soundtracks. Many of Case's most popular tracks appear on the soundtracks for Nutty Professor, Rush Hour, Nutty Professor II and The Best Man. These singles were "Touch Me Tease Me" (Nutty Professor), "Faded Pictures" (Rush Hour), "Best Man I Can Be" (The Best Man) and "Missing You" (Nutty Professor II).
2. Hailing from South London, United Kingdom, Case were a five-piece punk (sometimes ska-tinged) outfit led by vocalist Matthew Newman. Their best known line-up featured drummer Derwent, sax players Neil Pyzer and Micky Donnelly, guitarist Rob Brooks and bassist Marc Adams. Their only official release was the Wheat From The Chaff EP (1983), until all of their demo recordings were gathered up on the compilation CD, Ain't Gonna Dance (2011).
Let Me Down Easy
Case Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Night and day I've been doin' the math
To calculate where we wandered off the track
But I know that this love was never easy
But somethin's faded inside of your heart
So you're crusadin' to tear us apart
So disappear now, I won't get in your way
Ohh, let me down easy, let me down easy, whoa, before you go Well how do I beggin to convince you to love me
When you're a star in the sky up above me
And I'm too far down below
Your heavy heart has taken its toll
You've lost all the magic inside of your soul
So sell me a lie before you hit the road
Ohh, let me down easy, let me down easy, whoa, before you go Whoa yeah!
Cause I know you'd rather run than stay and try
Cause I know it's not much easier to say goodbye
Yes, I know, so if you've made your mind
Take what you want and get out of my life
But can you do this one last thing
And leave me with my pride
Ohh, let me down easy, let me down easy, whoa, before you go
Night and day I've been doin' the math (let me down easy)
To calculate where we wandered off track (let me down easy)
But I know that this love was never easy (whoa, before you go)
Something's faded inside of your heart (let me down easy)
So you're crusadin' to tear us apart (let me down easy)
It's clear now, I know you're gonna leave me (whoa, before you go)
So disappear now, I won't get in the way
In the song "Let Me Down Easy," Case explores the pain of a breakup and the difficulty of letting go of a love that wasn't easy to begin with. The chorus repeats the phrase "let me down easy" as a plea to the departing lover. Case's lyrics reveal his hopelessness and helplessness in trying to salvage their relationship. He does not want to beg for love, but he cannot ignore the deep feelings he has for his departing partner.
In the verses, Case breaks down his aching heart and acknowledges that his partner is already emotionally checked out of the relationship. He begs them to leave him with his pride, implying that the breakup is inevitable and happening imminently. The song acknowledges the difficulty of ending a relationship even when it has become clear that it is no longer working, and the feelings of hurt and betrayal that come with it. Overall, "Let Me Down Easy" is a somber and moving song about heartbreak and the difficulty of letting go of someone you once loved.
Line by Line Meaning
Ohh, let me down easy, let me down easy, whoa, before you go
The singer is asking his lover to break up with him gently and before they leave.
Night and day I've been doin' the math
The singer has been reflecting and analyzing the relationship to understand where things went wrong.
To calculate where we wandered off the track
The singer is trying to pinpoint a specific moment or reason that caused the relationship to go awry.
But I know that this love was never easy
The artist acknowledges that the relationship was always difficult, even if they were hoping it would work out in the end.
But somethin's faded inside of your heart
The artist realizes that their partner's feelings for them have changed and are no longer as strong as they once were.
So you're crusadin' to tear us apart
The partner is actively trying to end the relationship, which makes it clear that it's over and that there's no saving it.
It's clear now, I know you're gonna leave me
The singer is resigned to the fact that their partner is going to leave them, and it's no longer a matter of if, but when.
So disappear now, I won't get in your way
The artist is telling their partner to go and not feel guilty or burdened by their departure as they won't try to stop them.
Well how do I beggin to convince you to love me
The artist is acknowledging that they can't force their partner to love them and is wondering where to go from here.
When you're a star in the sky up above me
The artist is acknowledging that their partner is out of their league and that their love is unrequited.
And I'm too far down below
The singer feels like they're not good enough for their partner and that they're not on the same level.
Your heavy heart has taken its toll
The weight of their partner's feelings has strained the relationship and exhausted them emotionally.
You've lost all the magic inside of your soul
The love and passion that they had for each other has dissipated and can't be found anymore.
So sell me a lie before you hit the road
The singer just wants their partner to make it easier on them by saying something that will ease their pain, even if it's not entirely true.
Cause I know you'd rather run than stay and try
The singer realizes that their partner has given up on the relationship and is more willing to leave than try to work things out.
Cause I know it's not much easier to say goodbye
The artist understands that even though their partner is leaving, it's still not an easy decision for them to make.
Yes, I know, so if you've made your mind
The artist understands that their partner has already made up their mind and decided to leave.
Take what you want and get out of my life
The singer is telling their partner to take what they need and leave, as there's nothing left for them here.
But can you do this one last thing
The singer is asking their partner for a final act of kindness before they depart.
And leave me with my pride
The artist wants their partner to leave them with their dignity intact, even though their heart is broken.
Contributed by Nathaniel G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Antoinette Alvarez
on Touch Me Tease Me
Touch me tease me
Antoinette Alvarez
on Missing You
I'm Missing you