In late 2006 Carroll signed with Arista Nashville and released his first single "Alyssa Lies". His debut album was released February 6, 2007.
Carroll said in an interview with Songfacts that he looks at songwriting as an almost religious experience. The ideas are out there, he believes, and it's up to the individual to grab them and write them. "And you can either force the idea, almost screw it up if you really force it too much, or you can try to receive it the way it's intended to be," he explained. "And so my songwriting experience is, usually when I'm writing by myself, I just kind of let the idea come. And if it's a roadblock or whatever I may try to hammer through it for a minute, but then if I don't get anything I'll just leave it alone and come back to it a couple of weeks later."
Let Me Go
Jason Michael Carroll Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She was loving on his roughneck
She was talking bout running away
While he was puffin on a cigarette
And just thinking
How am I gonna say goodbye
He said girl you got it good here
A guy going nowhere
She said how's about Texas?
He got up and shook his head
Then said
Ain't ya been listening
It's never gonna work out
And I think it'd be a good time now
To let me go
You don't need me baby
Stop holding on the way you are
Don't you know I'm no good for you
And it'll only break your heart
If you don't let me go
He said other than a dreamer
I ain't nothing but a drifter
You could do a lot better
He leaned over and he kissed her
He said you'd got another year of college
And a good momma and a daddy
And me I got 93 dollars and this old '82 Chevy
So let me go
You don't need me baby
Stop holding on the way you are
Don't you know I'm no good for you
And it'll only break your heart
If you don't let me go
She said nice try
But you can't hide behind those shades there on your face
See I don't think you're all that tough
I just think you're scared of love
And I think I won't take up that much space
So let me go
Take me with ya baby
It's so cold outside your arms
And we both know that you're not as strong
As you think you are
So let me go take me with ya baby
I'm alone where you are
We both know I'm so good for you
And it'll only break ya heart
Down the road if you don't let me go
With ya baby
Let me go
The song “Let Me Go” by Jason Michael Carroll is about a man who knows that he is not good enough for the woman he loves but struggles to tell her the truth. He is sitting with her on a tailgate while she is holding onto his “roughneck” persona, and he is contemplating how to say goodbye to her. Although she suggests the idea of running away with him to Texas, he knows in his heart that it will never work out between them. Echoing his thoughts, he tells her that she doesn’t need to “mess with a guy going nowhere.” He tries to convince her that he is not worth her love and that it will only break her heart if she doesn't let him go.
The man is trying to convince the woman that he is not the right person for her, and he is aware of his situations in life. He is “nothing but a drifter” and doesn’t have a lot of money or possessions, whereas she has a good family and is in college for a promising future. He knows that she deserves better, and he is not as strong as he thought he was. Although the woman suggests going away with him, she understands that he is scared of love and tries to persuade him to take her with him. She understands that he is not as tough as he appears to be and reminds him that he doesn't have to be alone anymore now that she is there. The song is about being honest with oneself and others about the limitations of love and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
You were sitting on his tailgate
The singer sees his girlfriend sitting on someone else's tailgate, implying that she may be cheating on him.
She was loving on his roughneck
The other man is a roughneck, which is a term for a tough manual laborer, suggesting that he is more physically attractive than the singer.
She was talking bout running away
The girlfriend is talking about running away with the other man, indicating that she may be unhappy in her current relationship.
While he was puffin on a cigarette
The other man appears to be smoking a cigarette, which may suggest that he is more carefree and rebellious than the artist.
And just thinking How am I gonna say goodbye
The artist is conflicted about how to break up with his girlfriend, implying that he still cares about her even though he knows the relationship is not working.
He said girl you got it good here
The singer acknowledges that his girlfriend has a good life with him and does not need to pursue a relationship with the other man.
You don't need to mess with A guy going nowhere
The singer suggests that the other man is not going anywhere in life and is not a good match for his girlfriend.
She said how's about Texas?
The girlfriend suggests moving away to Texas with the other man, which shows that she is serious about leaving the artist.
He got up and shook his head Then said Ain't ya been listening It's never gonna work out And I think it'd be a good time now To let me go
The artist tells his girlfriend that their relationship is not going to work out and that it is time for them to break up.
You don't need me baby Stop holding on the way you are Don't you know I'm no good for you And it'll only break your heart If you don't let me go
The artist tells his girlfriend that he is not good for her and that she will only get hurt if she holds onto the relationship.
He said other than a dreamer I ain't nothing but a drifter You could do a lot better He leaned over and he kissed her He said you'd got another year of college And a good momma and a daddy And me I got 93 dollars and this old '82 Chevy
The singer tells his girlfriend that he is not a good match for her and that she deserves someone better. He also points out that she has a stable life while he only has a small amount of money and an old car.
She said nice try But you can't hide behind those shades there on your face See I don't think you're all that tough I just think you're scared of love And I think I won't take up that much space
The girlfriend sees through the artist's attempts to push her away and tells him that he is not tough, only afraid of love. She also suggests that she will not be a burden to him if they stay together.
So let me go Take me with ya baby It's so cold outside your arms And we both know that you're not as strong As you think you are
The girlfriend asks the singer to take her with him, implying that she wants to leave with him but also recognizes that he needs her just as much as she needs him.
So let me go take me with ya baby I'm alone where you are We both know I'm so good for you And it'll only break ya heart Down the road if you don't let me go With ya baby
The girlfriend insists that she is good for the singer and that it will only hurt them both in the end if they do not stay together. She also reiterates her desire to leave with him.
Let me go
The singer acknowledges that it is time to let go of his girlfriend and move on with his life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Melissa Etheridge
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sara Hausman
this song is exactly what my bf says to me and what i say to him. Thank you Jason for this amazing song. It really speaks to me
EMTFF Hannah
He's just as good live as he is recorded!
Sara Hausman
love this song!!!
Carley Sharpe
Jason Michael Carroll is such an amazing singer! So far I've got to see him twice, and I get to see him again tomorrow! I remember the last time I seen him. He signed two shirts, took a picture with me, and even gave me a hug. Made my night complete. While I was there I seen some girls who had a friend who could not be there due to cancer. They asked if he would wear one of her bracelets, and then he took time to record a video just for her. Completely wonderful man... Good lookin' to ;D
Brianna Viney
Lucky! I'd love to meet him but I'm all the way in Australia!
cecilia mclane
he rocks!! i love him
Krazyyouth
I love this song. Christian Kane and his band do a pretty good cover of it.
Cassy Smith
i love this song.
Jazz Marie
my all time favorite song off his 2nd album. and hes also my favorite singer of all time =)
pinklava09
i love this song!! its even better live :))) JMC is darn sexy for an older guy! :)