‘Let's Go’ is a song by American rock band the Cars, written by Ric Ocasek for the band's second studio album, Candy-O (1979). A new wave rock song, the song's hook was inspired by the Routers. The song's vocals are performed by bassist Benjamin Orr. ‘Let's Go’ was released in 1979 as the debut single from Candy-O. The single was a chart success, reaching number 14 in the United States and charting in multiple other countries. It has since appeared on several compilation albums and has seen critical acclaim. It was the 100th video to be played on the first day of MTV on August 1, 1981.
The song's signature hook is a series of claps followed by a shouted "Let's go!", which is derived from the 1962 song ‘Let's Go (Pony)’ by the Routers, as well as a simple synth melody played by Greg Hawkes. The song tells the story of a 17-year-old girl and her budding interest in "the nightlife".
‘Let's Go’ was released as the debut single from Candy-O in June 1979. The song's B-side is a non-album track titled ‘That's It’ that features Benjamin Orr on lead vocals. The single peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the US, making it the first song by The Cars to reach the Billboard top 20. The song was an even bigger success elsewhere, hitting the top 10 in multiple countries. In Canada, the track reached #5, and remains the Cars' highest ever charting single in that country. Similarly, ‘Let's Go’ peaked at #6 in Australia, where it remains The Cars' highest charted hit.
Rolling Stone critic Tom Carson described ‘Let's Go’ as "the best cut on Candy-O, while the Billboard review of Candy-O listed the song as one of the "best cuts". Billboard described the song as a "catchy midtempo number" with a guitar-driven "sassy rock sound." Cash Box said it begins "with a crash, moving into a streamlined pop rocker, filled with a futuristic combination of synthesizer blips, handclaps and crunching guitar chording." Record World said that "All the parts are geared for hit status on this fine-tuned mid-tempo rocker."
Label – Elektra
Songwriter – Ric Ocasek
Producer – Roy Thomas Baker
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1: Benjamin Orr]She's driving away
With the dim lights on
And she's making a play
She can't go wrong
She never waits too long
She's winding them down
On her clock machine
And she won't give up
'Cause she's seventeen
[Pre-Chorus]
She's a frozen fire
She's my one desire
And I don't want to hold her down
Don't want to break her crown
When she says
[Chorus]
Let's go
(I like the nightlife baby)
She says
(I like the nightlife baby)
She says
(Let's go)
[Verse 2]
She's laughing inside
'Cause they can't refuse
She's so beautiful now
She doesn't wear her shoes
She never likes to choose
She's got wonderful eyes
And a risqué mouth
And when I asked her before
She said she's holding out
[Pre-Chorus]
She's a frozen fire
She's my one desire
And I don't want to hold her down
Don't want to break her crown
When she says
[Chorus]
Let's go
(I like the nightlife baby)
She says
(I like the nightlife baby)
She says
(Let's go)
[Outro]
(I like the nightlife baby)
She says
(I like the nightlife baby)
She says
(Let's go)