Go Gentle

"Go Gentle"
"Go Gentle"
Single by Robbie Williams
from the album Swings Both Ways
Released	10 November 2013
Genre	Pop; swing;
Length	4:31
Label	Island; Universal;
Songwriters	Robbie Williams; Guy Chambers; Chris Heath;
Producer	Guy Chambers
Robbie Williams singles chronology
Music video
	"Go Gentle" on YouTube

"Go Gentle" is a song by British singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, released as the lead single from his tenth studio album Swings Both Ways (2013). The single was released in the United Kingdom on 10 November 2013. The song was written by Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers and Chris Heath.

Background

In an interview with Magic FM, Williams said that the song is a promise to his daughter Teddy. He said: "Go Gentle is a promise I'm making to my daughter. It was written when she first arrived on the planet and I'd been a selfish popstar for most of my life and then all of a sudden I've been asked to take care of this whole person. I still am scared that I'm not up to the task! I'm doing a good job of being a dad but it's scary, you have to look after this person for the whole of their life, I'm not very good at even looking after me!"^[1]

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "Go Gentle" was first released onto YouTube on 16 October 2013 at a total length of three minutes and fifty seconds.^[2] The video shows Williams dressed as a sea captain and performing the song on a parade float decorated as a wooden ship, backed by a band dressed as sailors, moving through the streets of downtown Los Angeles.^[3]

Critical reception

Lewis Corner of Digital Spy gave the song a positive review, stating:

"The singer's showmanship makes him a natural when it comes to the bravado and assurance of swing music [...] But with a classic whistle line, a smooth melody and Robbie's undiminished star quality, we're pretty certain 'Go Gentle' will stand the test of time to serve its true purpose." ^[4]

Live performances

On 10 November 2013, Williams performed "Go Gentle" on the live results show of The X Factor.

Track listing

Digital download^[5]
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Go Gentle"	4:31

CD single^[6]
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Go Gentle"	4:31
2.	"You Got Old" (featuring Jonathan Wilkes)	3:45

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2013)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[7]	29
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)^[8]	18
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)^[9]	24
Euro Digital Song Sales (Billboard)^[10]	13
Germany (GfK)^[11]	16
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)^[12]	7
Hungary (Single Top 40)^[13]	19
Ireland (IRMA)^[14]	28
Italy (FIMI)^[15]	5
Lebanon (The Official Lebanese Top 20)^[16]	5
Mexico Inglés (Billboard)^[17]	38
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[18]	45
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[19]	78
Scotland (OCC)^[20]	11
Slovenia (SloTop50)^[21]	12
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[22]	22
UK Singles (OCC)^[23]	10
UK Airplay (Music Week)^[24]	6

Year-end charts

Chart (2013)	Position
Hungarian Airplay Chart^[25]	98

Certifications

Certifications for "Go Gentle"
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)^[26]	Gold	15,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[27]	Silver	200,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country	Release date	Format	Label
United Kingdom	10 November 2013^[28]	Digital download	Island, Universal

References

^ "Robbie Williams: 'New single Go Gentle is a promise to my daughter'". Digital Spy. 11 October 2013.
^ Williams | 'Go Gentle' | Official Music Video - YouTube
^ "Robbie Williams sails a ship through LA in 'Go Gentle' video - watch". Digital Spy. 16 October 2013.
^ Lewis Corner (30 October 2013). "Robbie Williams: 'Go Gentle' - Single review". Digital Spy.
^ "Universal Music Deutschland: Deine Stars, deine Musik, alle Genres - Universal Music". Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2013-12-23.
^ ROBBIE WILLIAMS | Go Gentle (2-Track) | Diskografie
^ "Robbie Williams – Go Gentle" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
^ "Robbie Williams – Go Gentle" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
^ "Robbie Williams – Go Gentle" (in French). Ultratip.
^ "Robbie Williams Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard.
^ "Robbie Williams – Go Gentle" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
^ "Chart Track: Week 46, 2013". Irish Singles Chart.
^ "Top Digital Download, settimana 46 (dal 11-11-2013 al 17-11-2013)". FIMI. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013.
^ "Robbie Williams – Candy – Lebanese Charts". Billboard.biz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024.
^ "Mexico Inglés Airplay – Robbie Williams – Go Gentle". Billboard.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Robbie Williams" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
^ "Robbie Williams – Go Gentle" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
^ "SloTop50: Slovenian official singles weekly chart" (in Slovenian). SloTop50. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
^ "Robbie Williams – Go Gentle". Swiss Singles Chart.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 30 November 2013. p. 48. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
^ "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 - radios 2013" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
^ "Italian single certifications – Robbie Williams" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
^ "British single certifications – Robbie Williams – Go Gentle". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
^ iTunes - Music - Go Gentle - Single by Robbie Williams

[1] "Robbie Williams: 'New single Go Gentle is a promise to my daughter'". Digital Spy. 11 October 2013.

[2] Williams | 'Go Gentle' | Official Music Video - YouTube

[3] "Robbie Williams sails a ship through LA in 'Go Gentle' video - watch". Digital Spy. 16 October 2013.

[4] Lewis Corner (30 October 2013). "Robbie Williams: 'Go Gentle' - Single review". Digital Spy.

[5] "Universal Music Deutschland: Deine Stars, deine Musik, alle Genres - Universal Music". Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2013-12-23.

[6] ROBBIE WILLIAMS | Go Gentle (2-Track) | Diskografie

[sc_Austria_Robbie_Williams-7] "Robbie Williams – Go Gentle" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.

[sc_Flanders_Tip_Robbie_Williams-8] "Robbie Williams – Go Gentle" (in Dutch). Ultratip.

[sc_Wallonia_Tip_Robbie_Williams-9] "Robbie Williams – Go Gentle" (in French). Ultratip.

[sc_Billboardeurodigital_Robbie_Williams-10] "Robbie Williams Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard.

[sc_Germany_Robbie_Williams-11] "Robbie Williams – Go Gentle" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 19, 2019.

[sc_Hungary_-12] "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.

[sc_Hungarysingle_-13] "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.

[sc_Ireland_-14] "Chart Track: Week 46, 2013". Irish Singles Chart.

[15] "Top Digital Download, settimana 46 (dal 11-11-2013 al 17-11-2013)". FIMI. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013.

[16] "Robbie Williams – Candy – Lebanese Charts". Billboard.biz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024.

[17] "Mexico Inglés Airplay – Robbie Williams – Go Gentle". Billboard.

[sc_Dutch40_Robbie_Williams-18] "Nederlandse Top 40 – Robbie Williams" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.

[sc_Dutch100_Robbie_Williams-19] "Robbie Williams – Go Gentle" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.

[sc_Scotland_-20] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.

[21] "SloTop50: Slovenian official singles weekly chart" (in Slovenian). SloTop50. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2013.

[sc_Switzerland_Robbie_Williams-22] "Robbie Williams – Go Gentle". Swiss Singles Chart.

[sc_UK_-23] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.

[24] "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 30 November 2013. p. 48. Retrieved 27 April 2024.

[25] "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 - radios 2013" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved January 22, 2014.

[ItalyRobbie_WilliamssingleCertRef-26] "Italian single certifications – Robbie Williams" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 3 October 2025.

[United_KingdomRobbie_WilliamsGo_GentlesingleCertRef-27] "British single certifications – Robbie Williams – Go Gentle". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 October 2025.

[28] Tunes - Music - Go Gentle - Single by Robbie Williams

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v t e Robbie Williams singles
Discography
Life thru a Lens	"Old Before I Die" "Lazy Days" "South of the Border" "Angels" "Let Me Entertain You"
I've Been Expecting You	"Millennium" "No Regrets" "Strong" "She's the One" / "It's Only Us" "Win Some Lose Some"
Sing When You're Winning	"Rock DJ" "Kids" "Supreme" "Let Love Be Your Energy" "The Road to Mandalay" "Better Man"
Swing When You're Winning	"Somethin' Stupid" "Mr. Bojangles/I Will Talk and Hollywood Will Listen"
Escapology	"Feel" "Come Undone" "Something Beautiful" "Sexed Up"
Greatest Hits	"Radio" "Misunderstood" "Eternity"
Intensive Care	"Tripping" "Make Me Pure" "Advertising Space" "Sin Sin Sin"
Rudebox	"Rudebox" "Kiss Me" "Lovelight" "Bongo Bong and Je ne t'aime plus" "She's Madonna"
Reality Killed the Video Star	"Bodies" "You Know Me" "Morning Sun"
In and Out of Consciousness	"Shame"
Take the Crown	"Candy" "Different" "Be a Boy"
Swings Both Ways	"Go Gentle" "Dream a Little Dream" "Shine My Shoes"
The Heavy Entertainment Show	"Party Like a Russian" "Love My Life" "Mixed Signals"
The Christmas Present	"Time for Change" "Can't Stop Christmas"
Other singles	"Freedom" "Close My Eyes"
Featured singles	"My Culture" "Goin' Crazy" "The Days" "Forbidden Road"
Other songs	"I Wan'na Be Like You" "Beyond the Sea"

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