Let Me Down Easy
Recording Artist: Bryan Adams
Writers: Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance
Date Written: January 1984
Albums: Reckless - 30th Anniversary Edition (November 2014)
Audio:
 
Bryan Adams: rhythm guitar, vocal
Jim Vallance: percussion
Keith Scott: rhythm guitar, lead guitar
Tommy Mandel: keyboards
Dave Taylor: bass
Mickey Curry: drums
 
Produced by Bryan Adams and Bob Clearmountain. Recorded by Bob Clearmountain in April 1984 at Little Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver Canada.  Mixed in 2014 by Bob Clearmountain at Mix This, Pacific Palisades, California. Mastered by Bob Ludwig.
Cover Versions:
Roger Daltrey
Comments:
I'd completely forgotten that Bryan recorded this song during the Reckless sessions during the spring and summer of 1984. I'm going to guess, when the time came to choose the tracks for the album, "Let Me Down Easy" was number 13 on a list of 12 songs!

Better late than never.  Thirty years later Bryan included it as a "bonus track" on the Reckless 30th Anniversary Edition, released in November 2014.

Bryan and I orignally wrote this song for Stevie Nicks, but I don't know if she ever heard it.  We were writing for a lot of people back then.  Sometimes we got lucky (Tina Turner, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon) and sometimes not so lucky (Stevie Nicks).

Things worked out in the end.  The song found a "home" when Roger Daltrey included it on his 1985 album, "Under A Raging Moon". 
Lyrics: Well I saw you on the avenue
And as usual you're with someone new
I guess there's nothing left for me to do but turn away

I'm growing tired of all your alibis
There ain't one that you can justify
I ain't gonna take it anymore and I'll tell you why

You think it doesn't show - I feel ya lettin’ go
If you're gonna let me down let me down easy
It's time we got it straight - you know it's hard to take
If you're gonna let me down let me down easy

We've been going through some changes
And I'm well aware of all the dangers
Sometimes you look at me so strange it leaves me cold

Now you've gone and blown your cover
I know all about your temporary lovers
I ain't taking it another day and that's for sure

You think it doesn't show - I feel ya lettin’ go
If you're gonna let me down let me down easy
It's time we got it straight you know it's hard to take
If you're gonna let me down let me down easy

Ah - when I look at you now
I can't believe you're leaving
All those years and you've got nothing to say
You turn around and walk away

If you're gonna let me down let me down easy
If you're gonna let me down let me down easy
Oh - you gonna let me down
You gotta let me down - let me down easy
Easy - oh