"Before You Go" is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi, released as a single from the extended edition of his debut studio album Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent on 17 May 2019. The song was made available upon pre-order of the extended edition.[1] The song was sent to US radio stations on 6 January 2020, as his second US single. It reached number one on the Irish Singles Chart in November 2019, and on the UK Singles Chart in January 2020, becoming Capaldi's second chart-topper in the UK and third in Ireland.
"Before You Go" | ||||
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Single by Lewis Capaldi | ||||
from the album Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent (Extended Edition) | ||||
Released | 17 May 2019 | |||
Length | 3:35 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | TMS | |||
Lewis Capaldi singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Before You Go" on YouTube |
Capaldi revealed in a social media post that the song was "by far the most personal tune" he had ever written.[2] According to Idolator, the song "deals with the emotional aftermath of suicide", and was inspired by the suicide of Capaldi's aunt while Capaldi was a child.[3] "Before You Go" is played in the tempo of 112 BPM and key signature of E♭ major.
Clash Music's Robin Murray called the track "trademark Capaldi", further describing it as "a rousing piece of acoustic songwriting with a driving vocal".[4]
Released on 24 January 2020, and directed by Kyle Thrash, the video is of happy moments recalled by a group of friends as they pay tribute to a young woman (played by actress Sasha Lane), whose suicide has shocked them, with clips of Lewis Capaldi playing his guitar and singing appearing occasionally.[5]
The video has gained over 331 million views as of June 2023.
Credits adapted from Tidal.[6]
Weekly charts edit |
Year-end charts edit
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[82] | 9× Platinum | 630,000‡ |
Belgium (BEA)[83] | 2× Platinum | 80,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada)[84] | 5× Platinum | 400,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[85] | 2× Platinum | 180,000‡ |
France (SNEP)[86] | Diamond | 333,333‡ |
Germany (BVMI)[87] | Platinum | 400,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI)[88] | 2× Platinum | 140,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[89] | 5× Platinum | 150,000‡ |
Poland (ZPAV)[90] | 3× Platinum | 150,000‡ |
Portugal (AFP)[91] | 3× Platinum | 30,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[92] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[93] | 4× Platinum | 2,400,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[94] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
Streaming | ||
Greece (IFPI Greece)[95] | Gold | 1,000,000† |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Country | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 19 November 2019 | [1] | ||
United Kingdom | 22 November 2019 | Contemporary hit radio | [96] | |
7 December 2019 | Adult contemporary radio | [97] | ||
Italy | 13 December 2019 | Contemporary hit radio | Universal | [98] |
United States | 6 January 2020 | Adult contemporary radio | Capitol | [99] |
7 January 2020 | Contemporary hit radio | [100] |
Capaldi has performed the song for Top of the Pops,[101] the Swiss Music Awards,[102] American Music Awards,[103] Streamy Awards,[104] and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.[105]
American singer Jesse McCartney performed the song during the finale of The Masked Singer's third season.[106] It was also sung by English singer Charlie Simpson during the finale of the UK version's fourth series.[107]
In the finale of Series 12 of Waterloo Road, students sing the song in honour of a student who recently died in a fire.