As River Tiber, Toronto singer/multi-instrumentalist and producer Tommy Pax… Read Full Bio ↴As River Tiber, Toronto singer/multi-instrumentalist and producer Tommy Paxton-Beesley is unafraid to push his love for R&B and hip hop production into unusual places: pitching his vocals to sound like Mariah Carey, multi-tracking his voice into a dozen ghost choruses, and narrowing the gap in the soul spectrum between Jodeci and Flying Lotus.

Let You Go
River Tiber Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don′t even need a reason
Bet you're feeling all alone
And this′ the way they go, oh
I don't even need a reason
Telling me that I should go
I'm just walking blind on my own

I should be holding it down

You got everything I need
Except for a purpose
Often it′s worse and
Don′t know what I felt
Till it's fading behind
Holding it down, holding you down

I only want you when I let you go
I only want you when I let you go
I only want you when I let you go
It turns to water when I try to hold it

I can′t get the satisfaction
Nothing seems to set me free
So darling where you're going?
No I can′t get the satisfaction
Everything is calling me
To get my kicks on the wall

I should be holding it down
You got everything I need
Except for a purpose
Often it's worse and
Don′t know what I felt
Till it's fading behind
Holding it down, holding you down

I only want you when I let you go
I only want you when I let you go

I only want you when I let you go
It turns to water when I try to hold it

Overall Meaning

In "Let You Go," River Tiber wrestles with the conflicting emotions that arise from a deteriorating relationship. The lyrics suggest that the singer doesn't really want to end the relationship, but feels compelled to do so regardless. He is caught between wanting to hold on to a relationship that has been fulfilling in many ways, and the sense that he needs to move on to a new chapter of his life. He realizes that he doesn't really have a concrete reason for wanting to leave, other than the feeling that he needs to do it.

The lyrics suggest a sense of internal confusion and conflict, as the singer grapples with his own emotions. He knows that the relationship has been meaningful, but he can't shake the feeling that it's time to move on. At the same time, he questions whether he's even capable of finding satisfaction elsewhere, suggesting a fear of being alone or of not finding someone who fulfills him in the same way.

The chorus, "I only want you when I let you go," is both a confession and a lament. The singer realizes that he only truly appreciates what he had once he lets it go, and that the act of holding on too tightly causes what he desires to slip away.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't even need a reason
I don't need a justification for leaving, I can just do it

Bet you're feeling all alone
I imagine you're feeling lonely now that I'm gone

And this the way they go, oh
This is just how things tend to end up

Telling me that I should go
You're suggesting that I should leave

I'm just walking blind on my own
I'm moving forward without any idea of where I'm headed

I should be holding it down
I should be keeping things steady and reliable

You got everything I need
You possess all the qualities I look for in a companion

Except for a purpose
However, you lack a sense of direction or motivation

Often it's worse and
Frequently the situation ends up being more difficult

Don't know what I felt
I wasn't aware of my own emotions

Till it's fading behind
Until those feelings were disappearing in the distance

Holding it down, holding you down
You and I were trying to keep things under control and maintain the dynamic

I only want you when I let you go
I realize my desire for you only after we've separated

It turns to water when I try to hold it
My grasp on the relationship is tenuous, and it slips out of my hands

I can't get the satisfaction
I'm unable to find real contentment

Nothing seems to set me free
There doesn't appear to be anything that can release me from my current state

So darling where you're going?
I'm curious about your own path forward

Everything is calling me
There are many different influences vying for my attention

To get my kicks on the wall
I'm searching for stimulation, but finding it difficult to obtain

Writer(s): Tommy Paxton Beesley

Contributed by Isaiah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

No Related Genres

More Genres

No Artists Found

More Artists Load All

No Albums Found

No Tracks Found

PT4M29S

04When The Time Is Right3:55

05Waves5:11

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Khanya Nyameni

4y↑9

I don't even need a reason
Bet you're feeling all alone
And this' the way they go, oh
I don't even need a reason
Telling me that I should go
I'm just walking blind on my own
I should be holding it down
You got everything I need
Except for a purpose
Often it's worse and
Don't know what I felt
Till it's fading behind
Holding it down, holding you down
I only want you when I let you go
I only want you when I let you go
I only want you when I let you go
It turns to water when I try to hold it
I can't get the satisfaction
Nothing seems to set me free
So darling where you're going?
No I can't get the satisfaction
Everything is calling me
To get my kicks on the wall
I should be holding it down
You got everything I need
Except for a purpose
Often it's worse and
Don't know what I felt
Till it's fading behind
Holding it down, holding you down
I only want you when I let you go
I only want you when I let you go
I only want you when I let you go
It turns to water when I try to hold it

Callmecupcakeee

8y↑16

I don't even need a reason

Bet you're feeling all alone

And this' the way they go, oh

I don't even need a reason

Telling me that I should go

I'm just walking blind on my own

I should be holding it down

You got everything I need

Except for a purpose

Often it's worse and

Don't know what I felt

Till it's fading behind

Holding it down, holding you down

(x2)

I only want you when I let you go

I only want you when I let you go

I only want you when I let you go

It turns to water when I try to hold it

I can't get the satisfaction

Nothing seems to set me free

So darling where you're going?

No I can't get the satisfaction

Everything is calling me

To get my kicks on the wall

I should be holding it down

You got everything I need

Except for a purpose

Often it's worse and

Don't know what I felt

Till it's fading behind

Holding it down, holding you down

All comments from YouTube:

TheRestfulwind

8y↑32

Everything about this is so moving, tender... and soulful. I both heard and felt so many echoes of my own past and feelings that no matter how beautiful or painful... should remain memories. Thank-you

lalla12123

5y↑1

This

1 More Replies...

Khanya Nyameni

4y↑9

lalla12123

5y↑9

He is so good at creating the right atmosphere, that's the great part. Somebody else could have made this song, but it wouldn't have sounded so... Spiritual. So special. It's not generic at all if you listen carefully, what it creates lives on its own. Especially at the end, it feels like I'm in a whole different world, and that's what this song can create. At least, that's what it felt like to me.