In 1999, DeLange released live-album Dear John, an album full of covers by John Hiatt, after a very successful performance at the "Marlboro Flashbacks". The album went platinum in the Netherlands, for selling more than 80,000 copies.
In 2000, DeLange released her sophomore album Livin’ On Love. Although there was a good amount of promotion for the album, it could not compete with the success of its predecessor. It peaked at #5 on the Dutch Album Top 100. Its lead single “Livin’ On Love” became a minor Top 40-entry. Meanwhile, Warner Music attempted to promote this release as her "breakthrough" release in the United States. Although World Of Hurt was planned to be released in the States, the record labels in America thought the album was too old-fashioned for the 2000s. It was eventually shelved.
In 2003, DeLange released her third album Clean Up. It became another success for the Dutch singer, peaking at Number 1 on the Dutch Album Top 100 for five weeks. Its single “Shine” with Rosemary's Sons became a surprise Top 40-hit. Despite the success, the first single “No Reason To Be Shy” was a commercial failure and the record company decided not to release any further singles.
Later that same year, DeLange released her first compilation album Here I Am (1998-2003). She also collaborated with Kane on “Before You Let Me Go”, which was recorded live in Rotterdam. It peaked at #4 on the Dutch official Top 40, earning DeLange her first ever Top 10-hit. At the beginning of 2004, the Dutch section of record company Warner Music was disbanded and DeLange lost her contract.
She then signed with Universal Music. In 2006, she released her fourth album The Great Escape. Its lead single of the same name became an unexpectedly big hit, charting for more than five months on the Dutch official Top 40. The album peaked at Number 1 on the Dutch Album Top 100 and was certified double-platinum within its first month. Its follow-up singles “The Lonely One” and “I Love You” both entered the Top 40 as well.
In 2008, DeLange released her fifth album Incredible. Its lead single became a breakout success, peaking at #6 on the Dutch official Top 40. It also won the Schaal van Rigter prize. The follow-up single “Miracle” became an even bigger hit, topping the Dutch official Top 40 and earning DeLange her first Number 1-single. The album was also a commercial success, becoming her fourth Number 1-album and being certified quintuple-platinum.
In 2010, DeLange released her first EP titled Next To Me. Its lead single of the same name became another Top 10-hit. In 2011 she started working on a new album, which was later shelved after her father’s death.
In 2012, DeLange released her seventh album Eye of the Hurricane. The single “Hurricane” became the album’s breakout single. This new album was promoted with a concert in the 'GelreDome' stadium. It earned DeLange another Number 1-album on the Dutch Album Top 100.
In 2013, DeLange replaced Nick & Simon as a coach on The Voice of Holland. She returned to The Voice of Holland as a coach for its fifth season in August 2014. On 15 January 2015, it was announced that DeLange would be replaced as a coach for the sixth season of The Voice of Holland by Miss Montreal lead singer Sanne Hans.
DeLange represented the Netherlands, with singer Waylon as The Common Linnets, during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark. With the song “Calm After The Storm”, the band finished in second place behind the winner Conchita Wurst from Austria, the Netherlands’ best result in more than a decade. The song became a hit single across Europe, reaching the Top 10 in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Denmark and the United Kingdom. The band’s eponymous album also became very successful, 50.000 copies within a week in The Netherlands alone.
On 7 December 2017 it was revealed that DeLange would have a recurring role in the final season of the ABC/CMT musical-drama series Nashville.
In 2018 created DeLange her own record label, Spark Records, as part of Firefly/Universal Music. She also released her new eponymous album. The album debuted and peaked at #3 on the Dutch Album Top 100. It failed to produce a significant hit single.
DeLange was part of the Dutch delegation for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 as an artistic consultant and mentor to the Dutch representative Duncan Laurence, whom she coached during the fifth season of The Voice of Holland. Laurence went on to win the contest with his song "Arcade".
In September 2019 DeLange released the roots-album Gravel & Dust. Recorded in Nashville, this album was made with producer T Bone Burnett. It debuted at #2 on the Dutch Album Top 100. Quickly thereafter, DeLange released her new album Changes. The album debuted and peaked at #4 on the Dutch Album Top 100 and became a surprise hit in German-speaking countries. It peaked at #14 on the German Top Album Charts and a Top 10-album in Switzerland. The success inspired DeLange to tour through Germany in 2023.
DeLange participated in the seventh season of Sing Meinen Song - Das Tauschkonzert. The episode where DeLange was the central guest, suddenly increased the sales of DeLanges old albums and singles.
Don't You Let Go Of Me
Ilse DeLange Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No promises, no demands, no depending
Silence, no rules, no bending
No mystery, there's only you
I live inside an empty room
That's now inside my head
And everywhere and all around
Don't you let go of me
No comfort, no words and no ending
Solitude, I am tired of pretending
Still there's only you
I live inside an empty room
That's now inside my head
And everywhere and all around
Only your arms that I feel
Don't you let go of me
The ceiling high, the walls are wide
No floor beneath my feet
Nowhere to go, nowhere to be
And you're still all that I see
Don't you let go of me
Be quiet, maybe you can hear my heart
Be quiet, maybe you won't break me apart
It's all down to you, it's all down to you
It's all down to you, it's all down to you
It's all down to you
I live inside an empty room
That's now inside my heart
And everywhere and all around
Only your arms that I feel
Don't you let go of me
The ceiling high, the walls are wide
No floor beneath my feet
Nowhere to go, nowhere to be
And you're still all that I see
Don't you let go of me
You're still all that I need
Don't you let go of me
The song "Don't You Let Go Of Me" by Ilse DeLange is a melancholic and heartfelt ballad that portrays the feelings of being trapped, lost and hopeless in the absence of someone special. The lyrics "No solid ground, no relief to be found, no promises, no demands, no depending, silence, no rules, no bending, no mystery, there's only you" expresses the sense of isolation and uncertainty that the singer feels, with only the presence of the person they love providing a sense of stability and purpose.
The verse "I live inside an empty room that's now inside my head, and everywhere and all around only your arms that I feel" further emphasizes the overwhelming longing of the singer for their loved one, with their thoughts and emotions consumed by their absence. The chorus "Don't you let go of me" is a poignant plea for the loved one to remain close and not let go, as they anchor the singer in a world that can sometimes feel empty and unsure.
The song also explores the concept of solitude not providing comfort, with the lyrics "No comfort, no words and no ending, solitude, I am tired of pretending" indicating that the singer is exhausted by their own feelings and the loneliness they experience. In the bridge, the lyrics "be quiet, maybe you can hear my heart, be quiet, maybe you won't break me apart, it's all down to you" is a reflection of the singer's vulnerability and dependence on their loved one, with their heart and spirit in their hands.
Overall, the song is a heartfelt portrayal of the intense emotions that come with being in love, and the fear of losing that love.
Line by Line Meaning
No solid ground, no relief to be found
I am lost and have no way forward or out, no escape.
No promises, no demands, no depending
I don't expect anything from you nor do I need to fulfill your expectations of me.
Silence, no rules, no bending
There is no chatter or social rules to follow, there is freedom.
No mystery, there's only you
You are the only thing that is certain to me, everything else is uncertain.
I live inside an empty room
My heart or mind is empty, devoid of any feelings, thoughts, emotions or dreams.
That's now inside my head
My emptiness has now taken up residence in my mind leaving no space for anything else.
And everywhere and all around
This emptiness is not just in my head but it's all around me, it encompasses everything and everyone.
Only your arms that I feel
The only thing that makes me feel alive is the sensation of your embrace.
Don't you let go of me
Please don't let go of me, I'm afraid of losing myself completely.
No comfort, no words and no ending
There are no words or actions that can console me or bring an end to my pain or suffering.
Solitude, I am tired of pretending
I am exhausted from pretending that I am okay, pretending that I don't need anyone or anything.
Still there's only you
Despite everything, you remain the only constant presence in my life.
The ceiling high, the walls are wide
I am trapped in a high, wide and infinite space with no escape.
No floor beneath my feet
I am floating in a space without any anchor or foundation.
Nowhere to go, nowhere to be
There is no direction, no purpose, no place where I belong.
And you're still all that I see
You are my only focus and the only thing that matters.
Be quiet, maybe you can hear my heart
If you remain still, you can feel the palpitations of my heart that is screaming for your attention.
Be quiet, maybe you won't break me apart
If you remain still, you won't shatter my soul into a million tiny pieces.
It's all down to you, it's all down to you
Everything depends on you and your actions or inactions.
I live inside an empty room
My heart or mind is empty, devoid of any feelings, thoughts, emotions or dreams.
That's now inside my heart
My emptiness has now taken up residence in my heart leaving no space for anything else.
You're still all that I need
You are my sole necessity and the only one I rely on.
Don't you let go of me
Please don't let go of me, I'm afraid of losing myself completely.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ILSE DE LANGE, PATRICK LEONARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind