Williams has received a record 18 Brit Awards, winning Best British Male Artist four times, Outstanding Contribution to Music twice, an Icon Award for his lasting impact on British culture, eight German ECHO Awards, and three MTV European Music Awards. In 2004, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame after being voted the Greatest Artist of the 1990s. According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), he has been certified for 20.2 million albums and 8.66 million singles in the UK as a solo artist. Five of his albums have also topped the Australian albums chart, and has sold 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He also topped the 2000–2010 UK airplay chart. His three concerts at Knebworth in 2003 drew over 375,000 people, the UK's biggest music event to that point. In 2014, he was awarded the freedom of his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent and had a tourist trail created and streets named in his honour. Williams' thirteenth album, XXV was released on 9 September 2022.
After 15 years, Williams rejoined Take That in 2010 to co-write and perform lead vocals on their album Progress, which became the second-fastest-selling album in UK chart history and the fastest-selling record of the century at the time. The subsequent stadium tour, which featured seven songs from Williams' solo career, became the biggest-selling concert in UK history when it sold 1.34 million tickets in less than 24 hours. In 2011, Take That frontman Gary Barlow confirmed that Williams had left the band for a second time to focus on his solo career, although he stated that the departure was amicable and that Williams was welcome to rejoin Take That in the future. Williams has since performed with Take That on three separate television appearances, and collaborated with Barlow on a number of projects such as the West End musical The Band.
Go Gentle
Robbie Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Welcome to the zoo.
Bitter disappointments.
Except for one or two.
Some of them are angry.
Some of them are mean.
Most of them are twisted.
Few of them are clean.
Now when you go dancing with young men down at the disco.
Just keep it simple.
You don't have to kiss though.
Don't waste time whit the idiots
Think that they're heroes.
They will betray you.
Stick with us weirdos.
For all your days and nights
I'm gonna be there,
I'm gonna be there, yes I will.
Go gentle through your life.
If you want me I'll be there.
When you need me I'll be there for you.
Don't try to make them love you.
Don't answer every call.
Baby be a giant.
Let the world be small.
Some of them are deadly.
Some don't let it show.
If they try and hurt you.
Just let your daddy know.
Now when you go
Giving your heart make sure they deserve it.
If they haven't earned it.
Keep searching, it's worth it.
For all your days and nights (days and night)
I'm gonna be there (I'm gonna be there)
I'm gonna be there, yes I will.
Go gentle through your life (through your life)
If you want me I'll be there (If you want me I'll be there)
When you need me I'll be there for you.
Go gentle to the light (to the light)
I'm gonna be there (I'm gonna be there)
I'm gonna be there, yes I will.
If all your days are nights (days are nights)
When you want me I'll be there (If you want me I'll be there)
Say my name and I'll be there for you
Robbie Williams's song Go Gentle is a heartfelt message of guidance and love to his daughter. Williams advises his daughter that as she grows up, she will meet many people, some of whom will disappoint her, but most of whom will be "twisted," which implies that they will not have good intentions towards her. However, there will be a few clean and good-hearted people as well, and if she sticks with them, she will be okay. Moreover, he advises her to be cautious with her heart and not to waste her time with idiots who think they are heroes, as they will betray her, and she should stick with the "weirdos" who will always have her back.
Williams also advises his daughter not to try to make others love her and not to be clingy to people who do not deserve her love. He encourages her to stay strong like a giant in a small world, and if anyone tries to hurt her, she should let her daddy know. He concludes the message by telling his daughter that he will always be there for her, whether she wants him at her best times or worst.
The song's title, “Go Gentle,” was borrowed from a theme in a Shakespearean play, King Lear. In the play, the titular character advises his daughter to “go gentle” into that “good night” rather than fight inevitability. The song was written specifically for Williams’ daughter Teddy, who he wrote the song for after her birth.
The track was co-written by Guy Chambers, who had collaborated with Robbie Williams on numerous hits, including four of his five UK Christmas number ones.
The piano-driven ballad was produced by Steve Power who wrote and produced his wife's, Sarah Brightman hit, "The Phantom of the Opera."
Go Gentle was released on November 11, 2013, along with an album of the same name.
The song is a dedication to Williams' daughter, Theodora Rose Williams.
The song reached number 10 in the UK singles chart.
The song was nominated for Best British Single at the 2014 BRIT Awards.
Go Gentle features a sweet and poignant lyrics video that shows Williams in a recording studio, intercut with pictures of fathers with their children.
The song is played frequently on TV shows that showcase father-daughter relationships, including commercials and in TV series.
Chords: Verse: C, G, Am, F. Chorus: F, C, G, Am.
Line by Line Meaning
You're gonna meet some strangers.
You're going to encounter unfamiliar people in life.
Welcome to the zoo.
Life can be chaotic and crowded.
Bitter disappointments.
Life can be full of disappointments.
Except for one or two.
Not all people you meet in life will disappoint you.
Some of them are angry.
Some people have anger issues.
Some of them are mean.
Some people are unkind towards others.
Most of them are twisted.
A majority of people have their own issues.
Few of them are clean.
Only a few people are completely honest and pure.
Now when you go dancing with young men down at the disco.
When you're out partying and having fun.
Just keep it simple.
Don't over-think things.
You don't have to kiss though.
You don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with.
Don't waste time whit the idiots.
Don't waste your time with people who are not worth it.
Think that they're heroes.
Those who believe they are better than everyone else.
They will betray you.
They will let you down.
Stick with us weirdos.
Hang out with people who are unique and true to themselves.
For all your days and nights.
Forever and always.
I'm gonna be there,
I'll always be there for you.
yes I will.
I promise.
Go gentle through your life.
Take it easy and enjoy life.
If you want me I'll be there.
I'll be there whenever you need me.
When you need me I'll be there for you.
I will help you in times of need.
Don't try to make them love you.
You can't force someone to love you.
Don't answer every call.
Don't feel obligated to respond to every request.
Baby be a giant.
Be strong and confident.
Let the world be small.
Focus on what is important to you.
Some of them are deadly.
Some people can cause real harm.
Some don't let it show.
Some people may hide their true intentions.
If they try and hurt you.
If someone tries to harm you.
Just let your daddy know.
Tell me and I will protect you.
Giving your heart make sure they deserve it.
Be careful who you give your love to.
If they haven't earned it.
If they don't deserve your love.
Keep searching, it's worth it.
Continue searching for true love, it's worth it in the end.
Go gentle to the light.
Live your life peacefully and without regret.
If all your days are nights.
If life is tough.
Say my name and I'll be there for you
Call on me and I'll be there for you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Chris Heath, Guy Chambers, Robert Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-jc8wi6yq2r
Lyrics:
You're gonna meet some strangers, welcome to the zoo
Bitter disappointments, except for one or two
Some of them are angry, some of them are mean
Most of them are twisted, few of them are clean
Now when you go dancing with young men down at the disco
Just keep it simple, you don't have to kiss though
For all your days and nights
I'm gonna be there
I'm gonna be there, yes, I will
Go gentle through your life
If you want me I'll be there
When you need me, I'll be there for you
Don't try to make them love you, don't answer every call
Baby, be a giant, let the world be small
Some of them are deadly, some don't let it show
If they try and hurt you, just let your daddy know
Now when you go giving your heart make sure they deserve it
If they haven't earned it, keep searching it's worth it
For all your days and nights (Days and nights)
I'm gonna be there (I'm gonna be there)
I'm gonna be there, yes, I will
Go gentle through your life (Through your life)
If you want me, I'll be there (If you want me, I'll be there)
When you need me, I'll be there for you
Go gentle to the light (To the light)
I'm gonna be there (I'm gonna be there)
I'm gonna be there, yes, I will
If all your days are nights (Days are nights)
When you want me, I'll be there (When you want me, I'll be there)
Say my name, and I'll be there for you
@andygrilz8497
Fatherhood changes you in ways you never expect. I'm sure Robbie knows that.
@erzsebethyoung
It's a download from the Universe, according to the hidden Elite ( not known in the public domain) especially pregnant mothers before the baby is born.
@Plasma.Wolfie
My dad showed me this song a while ago. He died last year just before Christmas, I now listen to this song more often in memory of him. ❤️
@c.w.steffensen7691
Sorry to read your dad past away but think he just wanted to show you with this song how he felt about you and that you should remember he still would be there even when he was gone one day
@meanhulk1980
My condolences to your father and he always be in your heart
@josephdudeck5556
Thank you! His memory is worth far more than a song, but this song is worth his memory!
@watchman7471
Both sad and beautiful.
Best wishes
@joaocruz5603
Sorry to hear that😭 may his soul rest in peace Amen🙏 pray from Timor Leste to you🙏🙏🙏
@sarahoer3182
Never had the privilege of a loving and supportive father. This song is beautiful and I might say it helps from time to time to remind myself to go gentle.
@gooddaysunshine17
Me either so I understand your feelings. X