The band soon grew a live following and recorded their first demo songs, some of which would be officially released later in their career. The band's first single, "Fingers On It", received some minor recognition when it was featured in the 1986 movie Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Band members during this period also included drummer B.W. Boeski and guitarists Gino Martino and Alex Kane.
The group has released twelve studio albums as well as five live albums as of 2014, and they're perhaps best known for their hit singles "Fly High Michelle" and "New Thing" from their self-titled debut album, tracks that remain classic rock favorites. Despite becoming popular during the glam metal movement of the 80s, the band has little in common with many of those artists and has continued to record and tour since its formation, with the group being notable for its internal songwriting (influenced by classic pop such as The Beatles).
Coming out the gate with 1989's 'Enuff Z'nuff', the group received critical praise, with Allmusic saying that the band "deserves more respect than they'll probably ever receive." The album hit the #74 slot on the Billboard 200 top albums chart, with "Fly High Michelle" and "New Thing" both being top 40 hits on the Mainstream Rock chart. Sadly, though musically being inspired by bands such as Cheap Trick, Enuff Z'nuff's record label decided to present them in garish, tie-die outfits and foster a related glam image that the group resented.
There was more band member shuffling in May 2014 when guitarist Tory Stoffregen and drummer Randi Scott each left the band. Drummer Erik Donner joined on drums in June, while Enuff Z'Nuff continued touring as a 3-piece. In April 2016, the band continued with Chip Z'nuff as the lead singer, Tory Stoffregen back on lead guitar, Tony Fenelle (Ultravox) on guitar and Daniel B. Hill on drums.
Enuff Z'nuff released an album of older, previously unreleased original material in late 2016, titled Clowns Lounge. It mainly features demo material from studio sessions originally recorded in 1988 and 1989. Enuff Z'nuff released an album of new material with Chip Z'nuff on lead vocals, Diamond Boy, in 2018.
Enuff Z'Nuff released their 15th studio album, named Brainwashed Generation on July 10, 2020. In August 2021, a 3-CD set of formerly unreleased demo recordings titled Never Enuff was released.. A new cover album, Hardrock Nite, released on November 12, 2021 is a Beatles tribute record.
Enuff Z’Nuff consisting of Chip Z’Nuff on lead vocals and bass, Tory Stoffregen and Tony Fennell on guitars, and Dan Hill on drums will be releasing their new studio album Finer Than Sin on November 11, 2022.
I Won't Let You Go
Enuff Z'Nuff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You meant my love
You said my friend
Still I know better now
I'm getting back at you somehow
I don't know, but I do love you so
What do I do, when I hate loving you?
Going down for a hell of a ride
Make me feel all screwed up inside
I won't let you...
You're mind's all out of whack
I'm giving more than I get back
Those tears fall from your eyes
They're never real, the tears are lies
I don't mind, 'cause love is always blind
I've gotta say, it hasn't gone away
Here we are at the top of the slide
Going down for a hell of a ride
Make me feel all screwed up inside
I won't let you...
Give you love and you take it away
Then you say all the things that you say
It's unknown any game that we play
I won't let you go
Yeah here we go again
We're heart to heart, and end to end
I'm never giving in
I know I'm right and I always win
But it's true
That you belong to you
Oh can't you see that I belong to me?
Enuff Z'Nuff's song "I Won't Let You Go" is a perfect example of a love-hate relationship. The lyrics revolve around a push-pull dynamic between two people who clearly still care for one another, but have been hurt in the past. The first verse begins with the singer acknowledging that they still love the other person, despite their past disagreements. However, they also express frustration with the situation, saying "What do I do, when I hate loving you?" This line is particularly poignant, as it encapsulates the conflicted emotions that come with loving someone who has hurt you.
The chorus of the song is an anthem to staying the course, even when things get tough. The singer declares, "I won't let you go," signaling their commitment to the relationship in spite of everything. They acknowledge that there are ups and downs in any relationship, but they are ready to ride out the tough times and come out stronger on the other side.
The second verse delves deeper into the issues that are causing tension in the relationship. The singer notes that they are feeling unappreciated, saying "You're mind's all out of whack, I'm giving more than I get back." They also point out that the other person's tears are insincere, which suggests that they may be manipulating the singer in some way. Despite all this, the singer still holds out hope that their love can overcome these obstacles, stating "I've gotta say, it hasn't gone away."
Line by Line Meaning
Here go those words again
The person is reminding themselves that their partner has said certain things before that they should not be fooled by.
You meant my love
The partner has claimed to love the person.
You said my friend
The partner has also claimed to be a friend to the person.
Still I know better now
The person no longer believes the partner's claims.
I'm getting back at you somehow
The person intends to retaliate against the partner for their deceit.
I don't know, but I do love you so
Despite everything that has happened, the person still loves their partner.
What do I do, when I hate loving you?
The person is conflicted about their feelings for their partner, who they also resent.
Here we are at the top of the slide
The person and their partner are at a turning point in their relationship - things could go downhill very quickly.
Going down for a hell of a ride
The person is bracing themselves for a difficult and potentially painful time.
Make me feel all screwed up inside
The person is feeling very confused and overwhelmed.
I won't let you...
The person is determined not to let their partner hurt them anymore.
You're mind's all out of whack
The person perceives that their partner is not thinking clearly or honestly.
I'm giving more than I get back
The person feels like they are putting more effort into the relationship than their partner.
Those tears fall from your eyes
The partner is pretending to be upset, but the person doesn't believe them.
They're never real, the tears are lies
The person is convinced that their partner is being insincere and manipulative.
I don't mind, 'cause love is always blind
Despite their partner's untrustworthy behavior, the person is willing to overlook it because of their love.
I've gotta say, it hasn't gone away
The person admits that their love for their partner has not disappeared.
Give you love and you take it away
The partner has a pattern of accepting the person's love only to betray them later.
Then you say all the things that you say
The partner consistently makes empty promises and declarations of love.
It's unknown any game that we play
The person doesn't understand the dynamic of their relationship, which has become a competition or power struggle.
I won't let you go
The person is determined to hold onto the relationship at all costs, despite the problems.
Yeah here we go again
The person is realizing that their relationship is stuck in a cycle of ups and downs.
We're heart to heart, and end to end
Despite their problems, the person still feels deeply connected to their partner.
I'm never giving in
The person is stubborn and refuses to back down in the relationship.
I know I'm right and I always win
The person is convinced that they are correct, even if it means causing further problems or pain.
But it's true
The person is acknowledging a difficult reality.
That you belong to you
The person realizes that they cannot control their partner's actions or feelings.
Oh can't you see that I belong to me?
The person is trying to assert their own identity and independence in the relationship, which has become too focused on the partner's needs and desires.
Contributed by Thomas O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.