This is my very first review! I will start with the Billboard Top 100 Christian songs, starting with number one, NF’s Let You Down.

Update: Originally, I gave this a score of 0/10 and insisted to stay away from this song. Thanks to the comments of NumbersWithFriends (reddit) and one other reddit user, I decided to slightly change my review.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site! Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

Overall, the message is highly negative, though given the person’s situation, it is understandable why. The speaker expresses extreme disapproval of their current relationship and makes several sarcastic remarks at the other person. This is completely understandable, especially if it’s an abusive relationship; However, it is the wrong message to send.

Fed up with the actions of the other person and realizing they will not listen to him, he leaves the house, requesting no further communication. On his way out, he makes more sarcastic remarks towards the other person.

Score: 1/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

Little in the lyrics line up with Scripture. While I can appreciate the speaker’s honesty in expressing how he feels (as much of the Psalmists have done that), the way he handled his words wasn’t Christian. I applaud him for leaving the relationship.

I did not find genuine repentance for wrongdoing as outlined in Psalm 51. He did not acknowledge any wrongdoing on his part and blamed everything on the other person. Perhaps there was none to acknowledge. I’ll keep that in mind and err on the side of caution.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Chorus]



Feels like we’re on the edge right now

I wish that I could say I’m proud

I’m sorry that I let you down

Let you down

All these voices in my head get loud

I wish that I could shut them out

I’m sorry that I let you down

Le-le-let you down

This is the honest expression of internal torment. When he says “I’m sorry that I let you down”, was he sarcastic or genuine? Given the rest of the lyrics, I lean towards the former.

[Verse 1]

Yeah, I guess I’m a disappointment, doin’ everything I can

I don’t wanna make you disappointed, it’s annoying

I just wanna make you feel like everything I ever do

Was never tryna make an issue for you, but I guess the more you

Thought about everything you were never even wrong

In the first place, right? Yeah, I’ma just ignore you

Walking towards you with my head down

Lookin’ at the ground, I’m embarrassed for you

Paranoia, what did I do wrong this time?

That’s parents for you

Very loyal? Shoulda had my back

But you put a knife in it—my hands are full

What else should I carry for you?

I cared for you, but…

Complete and brutal honesty; however, once again, this is not the Christian way to handle things.

[Verse 2]

Yeah, you don’t wanna make this work

You just wanna make this worse

Want me to listen to you, but you don’t ever hear my words

You don’t wanna know my hurt yet

Let me guess, you want an apology, probably

How can we keep going at a rate like this?

We can’t, so I guess I’ma have to leave

Please, don’t come after me

I just wanna be alone right now, I don’t really wanna think at all

Go ahead, just drink it off

Both know you’re gonna call tomorrow like nothing’s wrong

Ain’t that what you always do?

I feel like every time I talk to you, you’re in an awful mood

What else can I offer you?

There’s nothing left right now, I gave it all to you

Much like any heated discussion, it escalates. This verse does a wonderful job capturing how that works. He is starting the process of an example laid out in Matthew 10:14. Though the context of this passage is about the Disciples of Jesus witnessing and “shake the dust” when the town they stay at does not receive them, the application we could apply, given this verse, is to walk away when the other person stops listening. This is the only part thus far that lines up with Scripture.

[Verse 3]

Yeah, don’t talk down to me

That’s not gonna work now

Packed all my clothes and I moved out

I don’t even wanna go to your house

Every time I sit on that couch

I feel like you lecture me, eventually, I bet that we

Could have made this work

And prolly woulda figured things out

But I guess I’m a letdown

But it’s cool, I checked out

Oh, you wanna be friends now?

Okay, let’s put my fake face on and pretend now

Sit around and talk about the good times that didn’t even happen

I mean, why are you laughing?

Must have missed that joke, let me see if I can find a reaction

No, but at least you’re happy

Finally, he leaves the relationship, completing the example laid out in Matthew 10:14. While I cannot condone his attitude, I can appreciate his candor.

Score: 3/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Anyone who has an abusive relationship will completely identify with his reaction, even though it’s not the Christian way. This is a great example of what NOT to do when leaving an abusive relationship, though it is common. Outsiders will applaud his leaving as I do.

Score: 3/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It doesn’t glorify anything, that is not the purpose of the song. it certainly does not glorify God!

Score: 0/10

Closing Comments

Let You Down is not meant to line up with Scripture; however, I did manage to find one Bible verse to which it lines up. While I applaud leaving abusive relationships and brutal honesty and can completely understand how one “explodes” when they are at their last straw, the way in which they approached the other person wasn’t Christian.

Final score: 2/10

Artist Info

Track: Let You Down (listen to the song)

Artist: NF

Album: Perception

Genre: Hip Hop/Rap

Release Year: 2017

Duration: 3:32

Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

*Copyright © 2017 Tommee Profitt Songs (ASCAP) NF Real Publishing (BMI) Capitol CMG Genesis (ASCAP) Capitol CMG Paragon (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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