Let Them Be Little (song)
Encyclopedia
"Let Them Be Little" is the title of a song co-written by American country music artist Billy Dean
with Richie McDonald
, the lead singer of Lonestar
at the time. It was released in August 2004 as the third single from Dean's album, Let Them Be Little
. The song reached #8 on the Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks
chart in March 2005, becoming his last Top 40 single to date. It was also Dean's only entry on the Billboard Hot 100
, peaking at #68.
magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that the production is "understated, with the words accented by piano and mandolin." She goes on to say that Dean "knows how to milk the sentiment from a potent lyric" and that he "turns in a solid performance."
Billy Dean
William Harold "Billy" Dean, Jr. is an American country music singer and songwriter. Billy Dean first gained national attention after appearing on the television talent competition Star Search...
with Richie McDonald
Richie McDonald
Richard Vance "Richie" McDonald is an American country music artist. From 1992 until his departure in 2007, he was the lead singer of the group Lonestar, which recorded seven studio albums on BNA Records during his tenure as lead vocalist. McDonald co-wrote several of the band's singles, and sang...
, the lead singer of Lonestar
Lonestar
Lonestar is an American country music group consisting of Richie McDonald , Michael Britt , Keech Rainwater , Dean Sams , and Michael Hill . McDonald left the band in November 2007 for a solo career before returning in 2011...
at the time. It was released in August 2004 as the third single from Dean's album, Let Them Be Little
Let Them Be Little
Let Them Be Little is the seventh studio album by American country music singer Billy Dean. His first album since Real Man seven years previous, it is also his first release on the Asylum-Curb label...
. The song reached #8 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Singles & Tracks
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart in March 2005, becoming his last Top 40 single to date. It was also Dean's only entry on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, peaking at #68.
Content
The song is a ballad celebrating children, proclaiming how they are a precious gift and grow up all too soon.Critical reception
Deborah Evans Price, of BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that the production is "understated, with the words accented by piano and mandolin." She goes on to say that Dean "knows how to milk the sentiment from a potent lyric" and that he "turns in a solid performance."
Chart performance
"Let Them Be Little" debuted at #51 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of September 11, 2004.| Chart (2004–2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 8 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 68 |