Say You Won't Let Go

## Single by James Arthur

"**Say You Won't Let Go**" is a song by James Arthur. The song was released as a digital download on 9 September 2016 in the United Kingdom by Columbia Records as the lead single from his second studio album *Back from the Edge* (2016). The official music video was directed by Felix Urbauer, set in monochrome. He performed it on *The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon* in 2017.

## Background and composition

> The inspiration was to look at someone's life and the path through it with a partner. Some of it is personal and some of it is inspired by people around me as well as imagining what life is like in other people's relationships.
>
> James Arthur on *Genius*

On the lyrics website, *Genius*, he explained that it was written with Steve Solomon in Los Angeles, where his A&R told him there wasn't enough love songs on the record. Arthur wanted to "tell a story and try and make people feel like they're getting the same chorus every time, but saying something different and developing the song and evolve." He added that he disliked having the brief, which wanted the "storytelling of that Lukas Graham song "7 Years" with the feel of "Love Yourself" by Justin Bieber," though he did his best. It was based on personal experiences, but no one in particular.

He told *Songwriter Universe* that it was the "easiest song" he's written, where most of the lyrics "just wrote themselves." He continued, "Neil would chip in with a word, and Steve would chip in. But again, I felt like I was just talking from personal experience in the first verse. The second verse was about where I'd like to be, or where anyone would like to be, which is to be with a soulmate, with kids and a wife or husband." The particular lyric, 'I held your hair back when you were throwing up,' actually did happen, where he "looked after her, and I knew I loved her at that time." For the section of "ghosts," he noted that he wrote it months after the original draft was written. Since the track needed a "breakdown part," he wanted to say something profound.

In 2018, The Script sued Arthur for copyright over similarities with their 2008 single, "The Man Who Can't Be Moved". Richard Busch, the attorney from firm King and Ballow who represented them, told *Billboard*, "It's widely known Mr. Arthur was dropped by his record label for public controversies, which caused a break in his career. It wasn't until the release of 'Say You Won't Let Go' that he achieved worldwide success..." and seeked account for all revenue from the track's distribution, touring, and publishing, as well as statutory damages. In 2021, outlets announced that the lawsuit was settled, which occurred during December 2018, and The Script were credited as songwriters. While this agreement was to be disclosed, Arthur declared in a series of tweets:

>
> Where there's a hit there'll be a bunch of greedy bitch, egomaniac vultures like The Script.
>
>
>
> I can sleep at night knowing that 'say you won't let go' was a completely original idea and every single musicologist in the UK said there was no case and threw it out. The Script then pursued the case in the US with a lawyer that employs very dirty tactics.
>
>
>
> ..The only reason I had to settle back then was because I couldn't afford the legal fees in America at the time and they knew that, as we were on the same management. Of course they didn't want any details spoken about publicly as part of the deal.
>
>
>
> Congrats on stealing a percentage of a song you had nothing to do with.
>
>
>
>

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[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 held your hair back when you were throwin' up

[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 ya

I think that you should get some rest"

[Chorus]

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

[Post-Chorus]

Just say you won't let go

Just say you won't let go

[Verse 2]

I'll 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]

When you looked over your shoulder

For a minute, I forget that I'm older

I wanna dance with you right now, woah

And you look as beautiful as ever

And I swear that every day, you'll get better

You make me feel this way somehow

[Chorus]

I'm so in love with you and I hope you know

Darlin', 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

[Post-Chorus]

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]

I'm gonna love you till 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 till we're grey and old

[Post-Chorus]

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

## References

1. ↑ Cantor, Brian (April 26, 2017). "James Arthur Performs "Say You Won't Let Go" On Jimmy Fallon's "Tonight Show" (Watch)". *Headline Planet*.
2. ↑ Wass, Mike (April 25, 2017). "James Arthur Talks "Say You Won't Let Go" & Second Chances: Interview". *Idolator*.
3. ↑ Kawashima, Dale (August 4, 2017). "British Pop/Soul Star James Arthur Talks About His Hit "Say You Won't Let Go," His Excellent Album Back from the Edge, And Writing His Songs". *Songwriter Universe*.
4. ↑ Brooks, Dave (May 21, 2018). "James Arthur's 'Say You Won't Let Go' Sued for Copyright Infringement by The Script". *Billboard*.
5. ↑ Bagwell, Matt (September 24, 2021). "James Arthur Labels The Script 'Greedy, Egomaniac Vultures' After Settling Copyright Lawsuit With Irish Band". *Huffington Post*.