"Can't Let Her Get Away" is a song by Michael Jackson released as the sixth track on the Dangerous album.
Background[]
The song was first recorded in August 1991 and finished in October of the same year. For the first time ever, the bridge features Jackson rapping.
| “ | This was mostly from a sample CD that I just put together myself, and it kind of reminded me of the James Brown sound. I could feel it. I thought I'd bring a shadow of some of the greatness of the James Brown production sound to this. I made the sample CD myself - that was me playing instruments, then looping them up and having them lying around for potential projects. Back then I just had them lying around and I hadn't used them… But I really wanted to use them! Throughout the album I was drawing off a lot of CDs I had hanging around, all played by myself. I'm a multi-instrumentalist. | ” |
–Teddy Riley for MusicRadar, December 20, 2021[1] | ||
Audio[]
A snippet of an alternate, unreleased take of the rap verse leaked online on April 14, 2020 through the @mjjrecords Instagram account. According to them, it originates from an unreleased eight-minute version of "Can't Let Her Get Away".[2]
- Alternate Rap Verse - (
listen)
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
I thought she had to have it
Since the first time she came
Who knows the situation
Mysteries do remain
And now, I wonder why
I break down when I cry
Is it something I said
Or is it just a lie? (Is it just a lie)
I try so hard to love you
Some things take time and shame
I think the whole world of you
Your thoughts of me remain
I'll play the fool for you
I'll change the rules for you
Just say it and I'll do
Just make this dream come true (Make a dream come true)
If I let her get away
Though I'm begging on my knees
I'll be crying everyday
Knowing the girl that got away
[Hook]
I can't let, I can't let her get away
I can't let, I can't let her get away
I can't let, I can't let her get away
I can't let, I can't let her get away
[Verse 2]
I tried to mastermind it
By saying let you be
But everytime I did it
The hurt came back at me
I told you that I need you
A thousand times and why
I played the fool for you
And still, you said goodbye (Still, you said goodbye)
If I let her get away
Then the world will have to see
A fool who lives alone
And the fool who set you free
[Hook]
I can't let, I can't let her get away
I can't let, I can't let her get away
I can't let, I can't let her get away
I can't let, I can't let her get away
[Bridge]
I got the feeling trouble's gotta stop
I got the feeling she's never gonna drop
I got the feeling she's never gonna stop
I got the feeling but she's never gonna know
My friends thought she's gonna like it
I got the feeling but she's never gonna take it
I got the feeling her head's all fucked up
I got the feeling she's out to play
[Break]
(Can't let go, oh)
I got to let go, I got a feeling but she's never gonna let me
(Can't let go, oh)
Gotta see her, how are they gonna stop me?
I got a feeling, but she's never gonna be
Got a feeling, but she's gonna find a way
I never feel it, but she's never gonna find a way
[Hook]
I can't let, I can't let her get away
I can't let, I can't let her get away
I can't let, I can't let her get away
I can't let, I can't let her get away
Trivia[]
- Footage of a studio session for "Can't Let Her Get Away" leaked online on January 27, 2023.[3]
- The song made an appearance in the 1993 film, The Meteor Man.
- The track apparently was inspired by another song from the Dangerous album, "Garbage" as said by those who attended Loren's 2016 seminar in Paris.