James Arthur rose to fame after winning the ninth series of The X Factor UK in 2012. After initial success and subsequent controversies nearly ending his career, he made a remarkable comeback with “Say You Won’t Let Go.”

About the Song

“Say You Won’t Let Go” is a romantic pop ballad that tells the story of a lifelong love, from the first meeting to growing old together.

Its emotional lyrics and heartfelt delivery struck a chord with listeners worldwide, making it one of the most streamed songs of 2016-2017.

Say You Won’t Let Go Lyrics by James Arthur Rose

Verse 1

I met you in the dark
You lit me up
You made me feel as though
I was enough
We danced the night away
We drank too much
I didn’t know that I was
Ready for love

Pre-Chorus

Then you smiled over your shoulder
For a minute, I was stone-cold sober
I pulled you closer to my chest
And you asked me to stay over
I said, I already told you
I think that you should get some rest

Chorus 1

I knew I loved you then
But you’d never know
‘Cause I played it cool
When I was scared of letting go
I knew I needed you
But I never showed
But I wanna stay with you
Until we’re grey and old
Just say you won’t let go
Just say you won’t let go
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Verse 2

I wake you up with some
Breakfast in bed
I’ll bring you coffee with a
Kiss on your head
And I’ll take the kids to school
Wave them goodbye
And I’ll thank my lucky stars
For that night

Pre-Chorus 2

When you looked over your shoulder
For a minute, I forget that I’m older
I wanna dance with you right now, oh
And you look as beautiful as ever
And I swear that every day you get better
You make me feel this way somehow

Chorus 2

I’m so in love with you
And I hope you know
Darling, your love is more
Than worth its weight in gold
We’ve come so far, my dear
Look how we’ve grown
And I wanna stay with you
Until we’re grey and old
Just say you won’t let go
Just say you won’t let go

Bridge

I wanna live with you
Even when we’re ghosts
‘Cause you were always there for me
When I needed you most

Chorus 3

I’m gonna love you ’til
My lungs give out
I promise till death we part
Like in our vows
So, I wrote this song for you
Now everybody knows
That it’s just you and me
Until we’re grey and old
Just say you won’t let go
Just say you won’t let go
Just say you won’t let go
Oh, just say you won’t let go

Live Performances of the Song

A detailed description of James Arthur’s performance of “Say You Won’t Let Go” at Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2017:

• The performance took place at Burton Constable Hall in Hull, UK, as part of BBC Radio 1’s annual music festival, marking one of Arthur’s most significant festival appearances that year with a crowd of thousands.
• Arthur delivered an emotionally charged rendition backed by a full live band, wearing his signature casual style with a black jacket, creating an intimate atmosphere despite the massive festival setting.
• The arrangement featured a subtle variation from the studio version, with enhanced live instrumentation and slightly more emphasis on the acoustic guitar during the verses, giving the performance a raw, authentic feel.
• During the performance’s climax, particularly in the final chorus, Arthur demonstrated his vocal prowess with additional runs and emotional inflections that weren’t present in the recorded version, showing his growth as a live performer..
• The crowd’s response was notably powerful, with thousands singing along to every word, especially during the chorus sections, creating a memorable festival moment that highlighted the song’s widespread appeal.
• The staging was relatively simple but effective, with subtle lighting changes that matched the song’s emotional progression, allowing Arthur’s vocal performance to remain the central focus of the presentation.

Similar Songs Say You Won’t Let Go Lyrics by James Arthur Rose

Here are similar emotional ballads and love songs by James Arthur:

• “Impossible” – His X Factor winner’s single that showcased his raw, emotional vocals and became his breakthrough hit, telling a story of heartbreak and betrayal with the same emotional depth as “Say You Won’t Let Go.”
• “Can I Be Him” – Another romantic ballad from the same album as “Say You Won’t Let Go” that features themes of longing and devotion, with Arthur’s signature vulnerable vocal delivery.
• “Train Wreck” – A powerful ballad that gained renewed popularity through social media, featuring the same kind of emotional intensity and raw honesty about personal struggles and relationships
• “Naked” – A stripped-down love song that follows similar musical and thematic elements, focusing on vulnerability in relationships and authentic expressions of love
• “Empty Space” – Released after “Say You Won’t Let Go,” this emotional track carries the same romantic storytelling style but focuses on loss and missing someone special
• “Falling Like The Stars” – Perhaps the most similar to “Say You Won’t Let Go” in terms of narrative style, as it also tells a story of lasting love and commitment through different life stages