"Before I Let Go" is a song performed by American R&B band

Maze A maze is a path or collection of paths, typically from an entrance to a goal. The word is used to refer both to branching tour puzzles through which the solver must find a route, and to simpler non-branching ("unicursal") patterns that lead ...

, issued as the second

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

from the band's fifth album and first

live album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track or cassette), or digital. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th centur ...

'' Live in New Orleans''. Although ''Live in New Orleans'' is a live album, "Before I Let Go" appears on the album as a studio recording. Written and produced by lead singer

Frankie Beverly Howard Stanley Beverly (December 6, 1946 – September 10, 2024), known as Frankie Beverly, was an American singer, songwriter, and producer known primarily for his recordings with the soul and funk band Maze. He formed Maze, originally called R ...

, the song peaked at #13 on the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' R&B chart in 1981. The song has been noted for its enduring popularity in Black American culture as a staple of gatherings and parties.

Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most Cultural impact of Beyoncé, ...

covered the song for her 2019 film ''

Homecoming Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni or other former members of an organization to celebrate the organization's existence. It is a tradition in many high schools, colleges, and churches in the United States and Canada. United St ...

'', and it is the focus of a 2021 episode of

Jenna Wortham J Wortham (formerly known as Jenna Wortham) is an American journalist. They work as a culture writer for ''The New York Times Magazine'' and co-host ''The New York Times'' podcast '' Still Processing'' with Wesley Morris. In 2020, with Kimberly ...

and

Wesley Morris Wesley Morris (born December 19, 1975) is an American film critic and podcast host. He is currently critic-at-large for ''The New York Times'', as well as co-host, with J Wortham, of the ''New York Times'' podcast '' Still Processing.'' Previou ...

's ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' podcast, '' Still Processing''.

Production

According to

, he had originally written the song as a ballad about his conflicted feelings for Delores Marie "D'Marie" Warren of Alton McClain and Destiny, who tragically died in a car crash in 1985, while he was in love with her but in a relationship with another woman. After the rest of the band was introduced to it by Beverly, they changed the sound to be more uptempo as they rehearsed.

Chart positions

Beyoncé version

covered the song for her 2019 film ''

'', and included the cover on the accompanying

. It also includes a sample of New Orleans bounce artist, DJ Jubilee, one of the pioneers of bounce music, recorded on

Take Fo' Records Take Fo' Records is an independent record label from New Orleans and the first to specialize in bounce music. The label is a subsidiary of Positive Black Talk, Inc., was founded in 1992 and operated by creative duo Earl J. Mackie and Henry F. Holde ...

. An interpolation of "

Candy Candy, alternatively called sweets or lollies, is a Confectionery, confection that features sugar as a principal ingredient. The category, also called ''sugar confectionery'', encompasses any sweet confection, including chocolate, chewing gum ...

" by Cameo also runs throughout the song. Beverly told ''Billboard'' that the cover was "one of the high points of (his) life... in a class of its own" and made him "feel bigger than ever! I feel like I have a huge smash out there."

Live performances

Beyoncé performed the song during her

Renaissance World Tour The Renaissance World Tour was the ninth concert tour by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé. Her highest-grossing tour to date, it was staged in support of her seventh studio album, ''Renaissance (Beyoncé album), Renaissance'' (2022). The to ...

and

Cowboy Carter Tour The Cowboy Carter Tour (full title Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour) is the ongoing tenth concert tour by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé, in support of her eighth studio album, ''Cowboy Carter'' (2024). An all-stadium ...

. During the latter, a video performance of Maze is featured side by side with Beyoncé's as a tribute to Beverly, who died in September 2024.

Chart positions

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

External links

* * {{authority control 1981 songs 1981 singles 2019 singles Maze (band) songs Beyoncé songs Song recordings produced by Frankie Beverly Songs written by Frankie Beverly Capitol Records singles