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Before You Go (Lewis Capaldi song)

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Released19 November 2019 (2019-11-19)
Length3:35
"Before You Go"
Single by Lewis Capaldi
from the album Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent (Extended Edition)
Released19 November 2019 (2019-11-19)
Length3:35
Label
Songwriters
ProducerTMS
Lewis Capaldi singles chronology
"Hold Me While You Wait"
(2019)
"Before You Go"
(2019)
"Forget Me"
(2022)
Music video
"Before You Go" on YouTube

"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 19 November 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.

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.

Critical reception

Clash's Robin Murray called the track "trademark Capaldi", further describing it as "a rousing piece of acoustic songwriting with a driving vocal".[4]

Music video

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 Capaldi playing his guitar and singing appearing occasionally.[5]

The video has gained over 440 million views as of October 2025.

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[6]

  • Lewis Capaldi – songwriting, vocals
  • Ben Kohn – songwriting, production, bass guitar
  • Pete Kelleher – songwriting, production, keyboards
  • Tom Bames – songwriting, production, drums
  • Phil Plested – songwriting, background vocals
  • Vern Asbury – guitar
  • Rory Dewar – art design
  • Robert Vosgien – master engineering
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
  • Chris Bishop – vocal engineering

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Before You Go"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[82] 9× Platinum 630,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[83] 3× Platinum 90,000‡
Belgium (BRMA)[84] 2× Platinum 80,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[85] 3× Diamond 480,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[86] 5× Platinum 400,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[87] 3× Platinum 270,000‡
France (SNEP)[88] Diamond 333,333‡
Germany (BVMI)[89] Platinum 400,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[90] 3× Platinum 300,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[91] 7× Platinum 210,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[92] 3× Platinum 150,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[93] 3× Platinum 30,000‡
Spain (Promusicae)[94] 3× Platinum 180,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[95] 5× Platinum 3,000,000‡
United States (RIAA)[96] Platinum 1,000,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[97] Gold 1,000,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Usage in media

References

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