I Won't Let Go

Album: Nothing Like This (2010)
Charted: 31
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Songfacts®:

  • This song was released as a promotional single from Country band Rascal Flatts seventh album, Nothing Like This on October 25, 2010. Jason Sellers and Steve Robson wrote the tune.
  • According to the press release, this song about the strength of love and friendship in times of trouble is a "You've Got a Friend" for the new millennium.
  • "One of the more special songs on this album for me is 'I Won't Let Go,'" said Rascal Flatts member Joe Don Rooney. "Being a parent now and listening to that song really hits home and truly hits me in the heart."
  • Sellers explained the spiritual inspiration behind this song to The Boot: "'I Won't Let Go' is special to me because I'm a Christian. It felt like to me, because we didn't define the character in the song, it could be a friend saying it to a friend, it could in some sense be God saying it to someone, it could be you saying it to your husband or wife ... So in that sense, the song's exciting to me, because it's got an inspirational message. It says something good that lifts people up.

    I wrote this song with Steve Robson about two years ago. He's from England, and he and Darrell Franklin had some deal together, where Darrell handles Steve's co-writes and publishing. So he set me and Steve up. This was the first song Steve and I ever wrote together. He came over from England, and we worked on the melody and the direction of the lyrics. Steve is an incredible writer. We didn't have to spend that much time on it. He had a musical piece already going. It just felt so inspired, and we built on that.

    After Steve left, I poured over what we had a lot more, because I loved the message and I wanted to make it as close to right as I could make it. I was thinking, if you were quoting what someone was saying in their own words... if they were saying this to someone in the family that's a soldier that's over there fighting, or to your mom, dad, wife, husband ... I think everyone wants to have someone say to them, 'Hey, I can't stop it from raining on you, but I will be here to help you get through.'

    We get emails from people - and I know a lot of artists and labels do, too - how a song touches someone's life. I do this for a living, and I'm trying to make money ... but when you get those kinds of stories and feedback, you really feel like you had some contribution. With an uplifting lyric like that, maybe it gives somebody hope to move forward and make it through another day, through whatever their trauma or disaster is, or even just getting tired in life."
  • Rascal Flatts lead singer Gary LeVox told The Vancouver Sun how the song touched him in a profound way. "It was spiritual for me, it was what God was saying to me: 'You may fall but I won't let go,'" he explained. "That's the power of a great song, a universal lyric that means so many different things to so many different people."

Comments: 11

  • Frank Ramirez from Glendale, ArizonaMy mother held me in her arms and sang this song to me and told me after to remember these words when she's gone to heaven.
  • Maria Guerrero from Vancouver Bc CanadaI love this song. I feel that God is talking to me. I even sang this song to a toddler who was crying in the daycare after his mom dropped him off
  • Linda Card from Mathiston MsRascal flats is a great singer he has a voice like an angel! It’s like he’s singing to you I beat cancer ! He’s saying he’s their for you ! He’s a trooper!!!
  • Randee Conley from ColoradoLove this song!!
  • Erick from FloridaSome might see this as a romantic song, but I see this as a Christian song, with God saying to a believer struggling in life, "I will stand by you, I will help you through when you've done all you can do and you can cope. I will dry your eyes, I will fight your fight. I will hold you tight and I won't let you go." Unarguably one of the best songs of all time. This is a song to listen to whenever you're going through hard times. Trust me, it'll work.
  • Judy Thomas from Brookfield, Missouriwon't let go is the best song I have ever listened to, it really touches your heart, and Rascal Flatts did such a great job on it and also the guys that wrote it.
  • TinaI love this song for the first time i heard. This song gives me power to get through all my pain. I always cry when I sing this song and suddenly I surrender all my life to God. Thank you for this song.
  • Marilyn from OhioI just recently heard this song by accident. I CANNOT express how this song helps me through the day, caring for my 98 year old mother with Alzheimer’s/ Dementia and blindness. It takes a toll on my husband and, I both physically, mentally, and emotionally. We get by just fine, but can not afford to bring someone in to care for her so we can get away for a few days. However, this song helps me get through my most trying days. There have been times I just did not want to live my life anymore. I have no one left in my family to go to for help. This song is why I cannot thank you enough, because it has helped me realize that I truly have a reason for living and my faith in God has been completely restored. God Bless!!
  • Zack from Noblesville, InYea, That is how I feel a lot now.
  • Cheryl from Lancaster, CaI wrote the lyrics to this song...no one else...i wrote it for my little girl Belita Alexis Wilson ...birth name. She is abused by her adoptive parents Tom and Amy Thompson. I wrote it to save her...but donna brown stole it after I told her about it. I told god to send thee holy spirit to help me wrote it. Donna gave it to -and im glad but I have more songs...since I may never get the credit for this one or the other hit songs she stole from me. My daugjter still suffers and a little girl was raped by tom thompson in december of 2010...this song might have prevented her rape...she was 12 urs old..my girl is 10 now. Ptescott valley, az. Is corrupt and so are many places ...no one helps the adopted victims and biological mothers who love the child
  • Cynthia from Fort White, FlThis is possibly one of the greatest songs i have heard lately, I am a Christian and this song has really helped me. I recently went through a pretty nasty divorce and now I am being laid-off so just the thought that God is there for me helps and this song serves as a reminder that we all need to be lifted sometime in our lives. Thanks for the lift.
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