Let Me Down Gently
La Roux Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Let me down gently
That's what I think I need
But when you let me down gently
It still feels it hard, hard
Turn me into someone good
That's what I really need
Tell me that I'm someone good
So we're not so far apart, apart
I hope it doesn't seem like I'm young, foolish and green
Let me in for a minute
You're not my life but I want you in it

Set me up I'm slowly
That's what you do to me
Oh you set me up slowly
Now I can't come down, down
Let you down gently
That's what I think you need
But when I let you down you're empty
And you try to hide your frowns, frowns
I hope it doesn't seem like I'm young, foolish and green
Let me in for a minute
You're not my life but I want you in it

And I hope it's sinking in
Left behind your perfect skin
There's a part of you that's free
And I know that there's a place for me

Let me down gently
That's what I think I need
But when you let me down gently
It still feels hard, hard
Turn me into someone good
That's what I really need
Tell me that I'm someone good
So we're not so far apart, apart

I hope it doesn't seem like I'm young and foolish and green
Let me in for a minute
You're not my life but I want you in it

And I hope it's sinking in
Left behind your perfect skin




There's a part of you that's free
And I know that there's a place for me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of La Roux’s song, Let Me Down Gently, is a plea for compassion and understanding in the aftermath of a breakup. The singer is asking the subject of the song to break their relationship off gently because it is what they think they need. However, even if the subject of the song tries to let them down easily, it still hurts. The singer acknowledges that they need to be turned into someone good and they want to be told they are good, so they can bridge the gap that has grown between them.


The singer wants the subject of the song to set them up but to do it slowly so that they can enjoy the ride. And if the singer lets the subject of the song down gently, the subject will still feel empty, but they will try to hide their feelings. The singer is aware that they might seem inexperienced, but they want to be given a chance to show that they are mature enough to handle a relationship.


The chorus reassures the subject and the singer alike that they are both seeking the same thing. The singer needs to be let down gently while the subject needs to be told that their relationship has ended. And though it hurts, the singer knows that they will find a place where they can be themselves.


Line by Line Meaning

Let me down gently
Asking for a compassionate breakup


That's what I think I need
Recognizing the need for a gentle breakup


But when you let me down gently
Acknowledging that even a gentle breakup hurts


It still feels it hard, hard
Emphasizing the pain of a breakup, even a gentle one


Turn me into someone good
Wanting to change for the better because of the relationship


That’s what I really need
Reinforcing the desire to become a better person


Tell me that I’m someone good
Seeking validation and approval from the partner


So we’re not so far apart, apart
Wanting to bridge the emotional distance between them


I hope it doesn't seem like I’m young, foolish and green
Not wanting to appear naive or immature


Let me in for a minute
Asking for a chance to be heard and understood


You're not my life but I want you in it
Expressing a desire to have the partner in their life


Set me up I’m slowly
Being vulnerable and allowing oneself to be influenced by the partner


That’s what you do to me
Acknowledging the partner's influence on them


Oh you set me up slowly
Highlighting the gradual nature of the influence


Now I can’t come down, down
Feeling unable to separate themselves from the partner's influence


Let you down gently
Offering a compassionate breakup to the partner


That's what I think you need
Understanding that the partner may also need a gentle breakup


But when I let you down you're empty
Observing the partner's emotional response to the breakup


And you try to hide your frowns, frowns
Noticing the partner's attempt to conceal their emotions


And I hope it's sinking in
Expressing a desire for the partner to understand their perspective


Left behind your perfect skin
Seeing past the partner's physical appearance


There’s a part of you that’s free
Recognizing the partner's inner freedom


And I know that there’s a place for me
Believing in the possibility of a future with the partner




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ELLY JACKSON, BEN LANGMAID, IAN SHERWIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Bulletproof Volvo

Let me down gently
That's what I think I need
But when you let me down gently
It still feels it hard, hard
Turn me into someone good
That’s what I really need
Tell me that I’m someone good
So we’re not so far apart, apart
I hope it doesn't seem like I’m young, foolish and green
Let me in for a minute
You're not my life but I want you in it
Set me up I’m slowly
That’s what you do to me
Oh you set me up slowly
Now I can’t come down, down
Let you down gently
That's what I think you need
But when I let you down you're empty
And you try to hide your frowns, frowns
I hope it doesn't seem like I’m young, foolish and green
Let me in for a minute
You're not my life but I want you in it
And I hope it's sinking in
Left behind your perfect skin
There’s a part of you that’s free
And I know that there’s a place for me
Let me down gently
That's what I think I need
But when you let me down gently
It still feels hard, hard
Turn me into someone good
That’s what I really need
Tell me that I’m someone good
So we’re not so far apart, apart
I hope it doesn't seem like I’m young and foolish and green
Let me in for a minute
You're not my life but I want you in it
And I hope it's sinking in
Left behind your perfect skin
There’s a part of you that’s free
And I know that there’s a place for me



Steph Kimmel

For those like me who have been driven insane trying to figure this out:

"How do you feel
In the night
Now the feeling's
Left behind
As you know there
Was a time
When your silence
Left me blind
Now you're callin'
From the aisle
I can see
It's denial
A denial
Left to slide
Now there's nothing
Left to hide"



Gabriel Bennett

Me desaponte gentilmente
Isso é o que eu acho que preciso
Mas quando você me desaponta gentilmente
Ainda sinto que é difícil, difícil
Me transforme em alguém bom
É disso que eu realmente preciso
Diga-me que eu sou uma pessoa boa
Para que não estejamos tão distantes, distantes
Espero que não pareça
Que eu sou jovem, tola e imatura
Deixe-me entrar por um minuto
Você não é minha vida, mas eu quero você nela

Arme para mim lentamente
Isso é o que você faz comigo
Oh você armou para mim lentamente
Agora eu não descer, descer
Desapontar você gentilmente
É disso que eu acho que você precisa
Mas quando eu desapontar, você fica vazio
E você tenta esconder suas carrancas, carrancas
Espero que não pareça
Que eu sou jovem, tola e imatura
Deixe-me entrar por um minuto
Você não é minha vida, mas eu quero você nela

E eu espero que esteja percebendo
Deixe para trás sua pele perfeita
Há uma parte de você que é livre
E eu sei que há um lugar para mim

Me desaponte gentilmente
Isso é o que eu acho que preciso
Mas quando você me desaponta gentilmente
Ainda sinto que é difícil, difícil
Me transforme em alguém bom
É disso que eu realmente preciso
Diga-me que eu sou uma pessoa boa
Para que não estejamos tão distantes, distantes

Espero que não pareça
Que eu sou jovem, tola e imatura
Deixe-me entrar por um minuto
Você não é minha vida, mas eu quero você nela

E eu espero que esteja percebendo
E deixe para trás sua pele perfeita
Há uma parte de você que é livre
E eu sei que há um lugar para mim



isabellalalalalala la

Let me down gently
That's what I think I need
But when you let me down gently
It still feels it hard, hard
Turn me into someone good
That’s what I really need
Tell me that I’m someone good
So we’re not so far apart, apart
I hope it doesn't seem like I’m young, foolish and green
Let me in for a minute
You're not my life but I want you in it

Set me up I’m slowly
That’s what you do to me
Oh you set me up slowly
Now I can’t come down, down
Let you down gently
That's what I think you need
But when I let you down you're empty
And you try to hide your frowns, frowns
I hope it doesn't seem like I’m young, foolish and green
Let me in for a minute
You're not my life but I want you in it

And I hope it's sinking in
Left behind your perfect skin
There’s a part of you that’s free
And I know that there’s a place for me

Let me down gently
That's what I think I need
But when you let me down gently
It still feels hard, hard
Turn me into someone good
That’s what I really need
Tell me that I’m someone good
So we’re not so far apart, apart

I hope it doesn't seem like I’m young and foolish and green
Let me in for a minute
You're not my life but I want you in it

And I hope it's sinking in
Left behind your perfect skin
There’s a part of you that’s free
And I know that there’s a place for me



Claire Lochelongue

And I hope it seeking in
Let behind your perfect skin
There's a part of your that's free
And I know there's a place for me

Let me down gently
That's what I think I need
But when you let me down gently
It still feels it hard, hard
Turn me into someone good
That's what I really need
Tel me that I'm someone good
So we're not so far apart, apart

I hope it doesn't seem like I'm young and foolish and mean
Let me in for a minute
You love my life but I want you in it

And I hope it seeking in
Let behind your perfect skin
There's a part of your that's free
And I know there's a place for me



All comments from YouTube:

James Pawson

La Roux is too good to ever be popular.
This band is our secret, friends.

James Pawson

@loudnoises111 Hey! Thanks for saying so.... you confirmed a suspicion I had about my faltering numbers.... my subject matter is depressing, I can't help that. Well, in case you want to give me a second chance, I have changed my format to be more off the cuff (not much point in spending 10 hours making a video only to have YT hide it)-- if not, it's all good! Thanks for engaging in the past. Either way, it's also cool to know we are like-minded about music... I effing love La Roux!

loudnoises111

@James Pawson I use to follow you James! I tried getting away from politics and world events though because it just brings negativity to me :\. Appreciated the commentary you did though. Cheers and take care, surprised and happy to see you on this video. Cheers sir!

James Pawson

@Benjamín Hernández Maybe where you live, for a moment, buddy.
One day I should make a video talking about how I managed to get into their sold-out show in Toronto.
So yeah, I know they were kind of, sorta "popular."
But not anywhere near what they ought to be, given how talented they are.

Maia Maya

@Benjamín Hernández people only know the song, they don't care about who made it

Benjamín Hernández

You do know Bulletproof and their first album was INSANELY popular, right?

2 More Replies...

david gardner

still a banger in december 2022

Miss Blasé

the song is an underrated masterpiece, completely overlooked and didn't get enough radio play, that's a fact. but Elly in this video? incredibly sexy. she's just wearing a black outfit and barely any make-up and is the most attractive woman I'd seen. it's her moves and just the way she carries herself is so fine. I thought this 6 years ago when I first saw this video and now 6 years after I see that my feelings stayed the same, yup.

Giorgia.Galilei 🇮🇹

Yes! 👏🏼🙌😍

SloanePaoPow

She is so beautiful. She's like the love child of David Bowie and Tilda Swinton.

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