Don Williams – Learn To Let It Go: A Baritone Benediction for the Weary Soul Seeking Peace
For those of us who have lived long enough to see the shadows lengthen, we know all too well that the heaviest burdens we carry aren’t made of stone, but of memories, regrets, and the “what ifs” of yesterday. In 1985, Don Williams gave us a musical compass for navigating these emotional thickets with the song “Learn To Let It Go.” Featured on his poignant album New Moves, this track may not have reached the heights of his early-seventies chart-toppers, but it stands as one of his most intellectually mature and spiritually resonant offerings. It arrived during his transition to the Capitol Records label, a period where his music began to take on a more philosophical, almost Zen-like quality that spoke directly to the reflective listener.
The song’s inception is a testament to the understated brilliance of the “Gentle Giant.” While the mid-80s country scene was beginning to embrace a louder, more polished “New Traditionalist” sound, Williams leaned into the stillness. Written by the insightful Joe Allen—the same hand behind the haunting “Ghost Story”—“Learn To Let It Go” serves as a gentle piece of advice from a man who has clearly seen the sunrise from both sides of the mountain. It didn’t need to scream for attention; instead, it drifted through the airwaves like woodsmoke, settling into the hearts of those who were tired of fighting battles that had ended years ago.
For the mature audience, the meaning of this song is as clear as a mountain stream and just as refreshing. The lyrics are a meditation on the futility of holding onto anger and the grace found in surrender. Williams sings with that signature, oak-aged baritone, reminding us that “life is too short to be living in the past.” To a listener who has spent decades building a career, a family, or a reputation, the song poses a vital question: What are you keeping that is no longer keeping you? It is a call to release the “bitter words” and the “old wounds” that serve only to anchor us to a shore we’ve already left behind.
There is a deep, soulful nostalgia embedded in the production. The acoustic guitar work is steady and rhythmic, acting as a heartbeat for the song’s central message of persistence through release. The melody doesn’t rush; it “mosies,” much like the old trails Williams loved to sing about. It evokes memories of quiet Sunday afternoons and the slow realization that the only way to move forward is to lighten the load. The song acknowledges that letting go isn’t an act of weakness, but a profound act of courage and self-love.
As we listen to “Learn To Let It Go” today, it feels like a soft hand on the shoulder, a reminder that peace is a choice we make every morning. Don Williams didn’t just sing songs; he shared a way of being. In this track, he provides a sanctuary for the contemplative heart, inviting us to breathe out the tension of the past and breathe in the quiet possibility of the present. It is a masterpiece of emotional maturity, a gift for anyone who has finally realized that the best way to hold onto what matters is to let go of everything that doesn’t.