About the song
Let It Be Me · Willie Nelson is a song that carries the weight of time, love, and quiet devotion—elements that have long defined Nelson’s music. Originally a French ballad titled Je t’appartiens, written by Gilbert Bécaud and Pierre Delanoë in the 1950s, the song found widespread recognition when The Everly Brothers released their beloved English version in 1960. Over the decades, it has been interpreted by many artists, yet when Willie Nelson lends his voice to it, something remarkable happens.
Nelson has always had an uncanny ability to make a song feel personal, as if it had been written solely for him to sing. His take on Let It Be Me is no exception. With his unmistakable, weathered voice—soft yet filled with emotion—he transforms the classic love song into something deeply intimate. There’s a gentle weariness in his phrasing, a sense of having lived through the words rather than simply reciting them. Unlike more polished or orchestrated versions of the song, Nelson’s interpretation is stripped down, allowing the raw sentiment to take center stage.
Musically, Nelson’s arrangement leans into his signature style, blending elements of country, folk, and traditional pop. His nylon-string guitar, Trigger, makes its presence known with delicate, conversational notes that weave around his voice, reinforcing the song’s message of unwavering devotion. The sparse instrumentation, likely featuring understated piano and warm steel guitar, ensures that nothing distracts from the sincerity of the lyrics.
At its heart, Let It Be Me is a plea, a promise, and a prayer. The song speaks to the kind of love that is steadfast, asking for nothing in return but the chance to be near. Nelson’s interpretation makes it feel even more poignant, as though he is not just singing to a lover but to life itself—to time, to memory, to the people and places that have shaped him. It’s a reminder that love, in its purest form, is about presence, about simply being the one who stays.
Video
Lyrics
I bless the day I found you
I want to stay around you
And so I beg you, let it be meDon’t take this Heaven from one
If you must cling to someone
Now and forever, let it be meEach time we meet love
I find complete love
And without your sweet love what would life be?So never leave me lonely
Tell me, you love me only
And that you’ll always let it be meEach time we meet love
I find complete love
And without your sweet love what would life be?So never leave me lonely
Tell me, you love me only
And that you’ll always let it be me
