Let Me Be (Xavier Rudd song)

"Let Me Be"
European CD single cover (2006)
Single by Xavier Rudd
from the album Solace
Released2003 (2003)[1]
LabelSalt.X, Anti- (2006)
SongwriterXavier Rudd
ProducersXavier Rudd, Todd Simko
Xavier Rudd singles chronology
"Let Me Be"
(2003)
"Solace"
(2004)
Music video
"WLet Me Be" on YouTube

"Let Me Be" is a song by Australian multi-instrumentalist Xavier Rudd. It was released in 2003 as the lead single from his second studio album, Solace (2024).

It was voted 54 in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2003.[2]

It was released in Europe in 2006 via Anti- (record label).[3]

In 2023, Rudd reflected saying "My whole thing was pretty quirky, didges with guitars and stuff, no one was doing that, and I didn't see it as anything really commercial. Then, all of a sudden it got traction and became popular, so I was stoked."[2]

In November 2015, the song featured in a KFC advertisement, angering his fans and PETA as Rudd is long time vegetarian and animal rights activist.[4][5][6][7]

In 2025, the single was certified platinum in Australia.

Track listing

UK Single (Anti- 1255-2) (2006)[3]
  1. "Let Me Be" (radio edit) - 3:09
  2. "To Let" - 8:53
  3. "Let Me Be" (video) (Live in Sydney)

Certifications

Certification for "Let Me Be"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[8] Platinum 70,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Xavier Rudd - Let Me Be". dailymotion. 2003. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b "From Missy Higgins to Hilltop Hoods — 2003 was the year some of Australia's biggest artists broke through". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b Let Me Be (CD). Anti- & Xavier Rudd. Anti-. 2006.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ "Xavier Rudd fans angry as his song appears in KFC ad". Sydney Morning Herald. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Urban Outfitters, Pepsi & KFC: Criticising Musician-Brand Partnerships". Howl and Echoes. March 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Courtney Barnett Distances Herself from KFC Tweet". The Music (magazine). 9 December 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  7. ^ "Xavier Rudd fans angry as his song appears in KFC ad". The Age (newspaper). 7 December 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  8. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2025 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 January 2026.