Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be
And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Yeah, there will be an answer
Let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, yeah, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be
And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me
Shine until tomorrow, let it be
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, yeah, let it be
There will be an answer
Let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, yeah, let it be
There will be an answer
Let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, yeah, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be
And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Yeah, there will be an answer
Let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, yeah, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be
And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me
Shine until tomorrow, let it be
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, yeah, let it be
There will be an answer
Let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, yeah, let it be
There will be an answer
Let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, yeah, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be
Lyrics submitted by Ice, edited by abdurahman, caleblanders
Let It Be Lyrics as written by Paul Mccartney John Lennon
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
McCartney: One night during this tense time I had a dream I saw my mum, who’d been dead 10 years or so. And it was so great to see her because that’s a wonderful ting about dreams: you actually are reunited with that person for a second; there they are and you appear to both be physically together again. It was so wonderful for me and she was very reassuring. In the dream she said, ‘It’ll be all right.’ I’m not sure if she used the words ‘Let it be’ but that was the gist of her advice, it was, ‘Don’t worry too much, it will turn out OK.’ It was such a sweet dream I woke up thinking, Oh, it was really great to visit with her again. I felt very blessed to have that dream. So that got me writing the song “Let It Be.” I literally started off ‘Mother Mary’, which was her name, ‘When I find myself in times of trouble’, which I certainly found myself in. The song was based on that dream.
McCartney: Mother Mary makes it a quasi-religious thing, so you can take it that way. I don’t mind. I’m quite happy if people want to use it to shore up their faith. I have no problem with that. I think it’s a great thing to have faith of any sort, particularly in the world we live in.
Lennon: That’s Paul. What can you say? Nothing to do with the Beatles. It could’ve been Wings. I don’t know what he’s thinking when he writes “Let It Be.” I think it was inspired by “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” That’s my feeling, although I have nothing to go on. I know he wanted to write a “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
(It should be noted that John was way off here because “Let It Be” was actually recorded well before “Bridge Over Troubled Water” was released. Also I think George’s beautiful guitar solo is an important part of the song. I sense jealousy in this quote.)
Good point about this being about Paul's mother. However, your statement about John's being way off might not be correct. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" was released as a single in January 1970. "Let It Be" was released in March of 1970.
@Dresden89 Let It Be doesn't hold up as well as Hey Jude, Penny Lane, Paperback Writer, Eleanor Rigby, Helter Skelter, We Can Work It Out, I'm Down, Things We Said Today, Here There and Everywhere, You Never Give Me Your Money, Two Of Us, I've Got A Feeling, She's A Woman, Oh! Darling, It's Getting Better...
@LisaPetrolo I know this is nearly five years after your post and maybe it has been noted elsewhere. A rare demo of Let It Be was recorded in the summer of 1968 and was included on the deluxe edition of The Beatles aka The "White Album", which was recently released November 2018 to mark the LP's 50th anniversary. So after all these nearly 5 years we can conclude “Let it be” was written and recorded nearly 2 years before “Bridge Over Troubled Water” was released.
if there is a song that tells you how to solve basically anything, this is it...
My interpretation is that you can't control people or situations, even if you desperately want to, and for what may feel very good reason. In relationships we may want to fix or change things, but no matter how much love and communication is given, you cannot change people or control their sometimes shitty and weak choices.
After struggling to hold everything together for too long, you finally realise, you actually have no control and that you just have to 'let it be". It's out of your hands.
Faith gets you through these times ~knowing that you can and will be okay whatever outcome.
I think you are right! :-)
I don't have to type my own commentary- because you summed it up just right. :)
@archetypes I kept reading your interpretation do many times just so I can absorb it. I\'m in deep sorrow right now, undergoing a tough break-up I cant control. The way you constructed the whole outline of the song, just gave me a realization, a clear thought of what is happening to me and what it\'s going to be. This commentary will forever live through me.
This is one of the most beautiful and peacful songs ever ritten. It has a very deep, yet simple meaning. I lissen to ths song when im having a bad day or going thru something bad..basicially when im depressed. This song to me means that whatever is going to happen..will happen and that all the problems in ur life ..u shud jes let them be. let the situation be..let the people be. dont get urself worked up. And when the night is cloudy(When u are going thru something..when everythign just seems rong), There is still a light that shines on me, shine on till tommorow..(If ulook hard enuff u'll find something good...the light is always shinning on u..even during the darkest times), LET IT BE!
@Fatimajafri I am with you ! This song has gotten me through many rough times
this is a beautiful song. about paul's mum.
how the hell is this song about weed.????
mother mary= marijuana<br /> speaking words of wisdom
@imaginefrankie Mother Mary was Paul's mother.
Someone said it is about finding "light in darkness" and that sounds sooo nice. Yay-yuh.
But, I have a skewed perspective on this one! My friend "Donut Boy" once threatened me with this song. Did he used to be a COP? I hope so. I mean, who doesn't love a man in a uniform? But, don't forget to BE KIND Mr. Donut! I will be too!
A personal break-up. The Beatles break-up. The death of a grandmother, weed, a donut loving man...... Art can mean WHATEVER the hell we WANT it to mean. EVERYTHING is relevant. AND I JUST LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE THAT ABOUT IT! That's why I'll NEVER "Let It Be". And besides.... I was INVITED here after all! Don't be inhospitable!
Art for art's sake. No right or wrong answers here on Song Meanings. Just be true to yourself. I hate Lady Gaga.
I think like all music, poetry, or art, this song has different meanings to different people. That's the real purpose of any art, I think, is to connect with others. McCartney may very well have meant his mother, or he may have meant Mother Mary, but I think he probably meant both. It is a simple, beautiful song. Nothing really fancy about it. That's what makes is such a great song........and it IS a GREAT song.
This song got me through the death of my Grandmother last summer and it still makes me cry everytime I hear it!
The lyrics are just phenomenal!
in my opinion this song talks about how you're always gonna go through hard times but you have to let it be and it'll get better as you go on and i love this song to death it describes my life i my opinion