Timeline Albums, EPs & singles Songs Films Concerts Sessions People Interviews Articles
⚬⚬⚬

Released in 1975

Letting Go

Written by Paul McCartney • Linda Eastman / McCartney

Last updated on March 28, 2025

Album This song officially appears on the Venus and Mars Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1975

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related interview

From Wikipedia:

“Letting Go” is a song credited to Paul and Linda McCartney and originally released by Wings on the 1975 album Venus and Mars. The song was remixed and released as a single on 4 October 1975 in the United States, and on 18 October 1975 in the United Kingdom. The song peaked at number 41 in the UK, and a slightly better number 39 in the US.

The song was recorded late in 1974 at Abbey Road Studios, before the band went to New Orleans to record the bulk of Venus and Mars. It was one of only three songs recorded with short-term Wings’ drummer Geoff Britton before Britton quit the band (the others being “Love in Song” and “Medicine Jar“).

Like many of Paul McCartney’s songs of this period, the subject of “Letting Go” is his wife Linda. The singer describes himself in a relationship with a beautiful woman but he remains concerned about the relationship. McCartney biographer Peter Ames Carlin claims that the song “traced the thin line between love and obsession”, with “passion in all its unhinged, dangerous glory.” The song reflects McCartney’s recognition that he needed to give his wife more space to pursue her own interests, after Linda had given up her career as a photographer to join his band. The content of the lyrics varies between the verses and refrain, with the verses describing the subject and the refrain acknowledging the idea of “letting go.” The key is A minor at the start of the song, but the song ends in C minor.

The contrast in the lyrics is also reflected in the music, with the refrain using a descending note melody and having a darker sound than the verses, which have a melody that wavers up and down. The song uses a medium tempo, and the instruments include a guitar part described by Allmusic critic Donald Guarisco as “bluesy” and keyboards, plus a horn parts in an interlude as well as in the outro. “Letting Go” has more of a soul music feel than most of the songs on Venus and Mars, which are more pop music oriented. The single version is remixed and is approximately a minute shorter than the album track. The single also incorporates elements that were not included on the album track, such as an organ glissando at the beginning.

Authors Chip Madinger and Mark Easter called “Letting Go” “one of the best songs on the LP.” Robert Rodriguez called it “a strong track topped with a full slab of brass” and noted that it was “one of the Wings’ onstage highlights.”[10] Authors Roy Carr and Tony Tyler described the song as one of the few “genuinely potent” tracks on Venus and Mars but with respect to the single declare that McCartney “should have taken his advice and let go. This seeks to be composedly heavy but merely succeeds in attaining a considerable degree of ponderosity.”[11] In the book The Rough Guide to the Beatles, Chris Ingham considered “Letting Go” to be “an inert sludge rocker,” calling it “a disastrous choice for a single.”[12]

The song was performed during the Wings over America tour in 1976, and was included on the live album Wings over America and on the concert film, Rockshow.[13][14] Larry Rohter of The Washington Post described the performance on Wings Over America as “rollicking” and “exciting.”[15] Ben Fong-Torres described McCartney’s live performance of the song as “reaching back for some of that Little Richard inspiration.”[16] McCartney played it again during his 2010 Up and Coming Tour.

“Letting Go” has been covered by Ian Mitchell on the album Garage Band Tribute To the Beatles.[17][18]

From Paul McCartney Extends Wings’ Reach on Remastered ‘Letting Go’ – SPIN, October 29, 2014:

On October 29th, in honor of the two albums’ rereleases, the legendary singer has released an extended, remastered rendition of the Venus and Mars classic “Letting Go,” which is exclusive to McCartney’s website and will not appear on the Venus reissue. In terms of differences, Wings fans will be pleased to discover that the latest version of “Letting Go” is about a full minute longer than the original, features an extra smattering of guitar solos, a more prominent bassline, and basically no horns. (Unless horns are your thing.)

You performed ‘Letting Go’ from Venus and Mars on your most recent tour. Is there a reason why that song is still a crucial part of the set?

I just like the song. I like the riff. It’s a funky little riff! And obviously on this latest tour we had the horn section, the Hot City Horns. Or the ‘Horny Boys’, as we also call them! They start the song from somewhere in the crowd, and we have to do another number to allow them time to get back to the stage!

Paul McCartney – Interview with paulmccartney.com, March 27, 2025

Lyrics

Ah she tastes like wine

Such a human being so divine

Oh she feels like sun

Mother nature look at what you’ve done

Oh I feel like letting go

Oh I feel like letting go.

Ah – she looks like snow

I want to put her in a Broadway show

Ah she’ll dance and dine

Like a lucifer she’ll always shine

Oh – I feel like letting go

Oh – I feel like letting go

Oh – I feel like letting go

Oh – I feel like letting go

Ah she sings it so

I want to put her on the radio

One day and there you are

Ladies and Gentlemen

A brand new star.

Oh I feel like letting go

Oh I feel like letting go

Officially appears on

See all official recordings containing “Letting Go”

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Letting Go”

Related film

Videos

Concert Sep 07, 2018 in New York

Live performances

“Letting Go” has been played in 249 concerts and 15 soundchecks.

Latest concerts where “Letting Go” has been played

See all concerts where “Letting Go” has been played

Going further

Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989

With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.

Buy on Amazon

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

2024 • Please note this site is strictly non-commercial. All pictures, videos & quoted texts remain the property of the respective copyright owner, and no implication of ownership by us is intended or should be inferred. Any copyright owner who wants something removed should contact us and we will do so immediately. Alternatively, we would be delighted to provide credits.