Burna Boy’s “Don’t Let Me Drown”

“Don’t Let Me Drown” by Burna Boy, one of the standout tracks from the official soundtrack of F1: The Movie, released June 27, 2025.

With the global Afrobeat ambassador bringing emotional weight and sonic depth to the fast-paced, high-stakes environment of Formula 1, this track is more than music it's a powerful character in the film’s story.

The Movie: A New Kind of Racing Film

Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Lewis Hamilton, F1: The Movie stars Brad Pitt and Damson Idris as veteran and rookie racers navigating the intense world of Formula 1. The film blends real-life F1 race footage with scripted drama, offering fans both adrenaline and emotion.

The movie isn’t just about racing it’s about redemption, ambition, and pushing through personal limits. And that’s where Burna Boy’s song fits in.

The Track: “Don’t Let Me Drown”

“Don’t Let Me Drown” delivers a gripping emotional message. It opens with ambient keys, then builds into Burna’s signature blend of Afrobeat, reggae, and soul. His voice, at once vulnerable and defiant, pleads against defeat and abandonment.

This isn’t a love song it’s a cry for strength in moments of internal chaos. It perfectly captures the film’s emotional core: the fear of failure, the battle with one’s demons, and the desperate need for grounding when everything is spinning out of control.

While the full lyrics haven’t been officially released yet, the title and chorus “Don’t Let Me Drown” speak to a deep fear of being overwhelmed or forgotten. Burna Boy has often used metaphor and personal experience in his music, and here he touches on something universal:

• The fear of collapse under pressure

• The loneliness at the top

• The plea for emotional rescue

These themes echo the storyline of the film’s young protagonist, Sonny Hayes (Damson Idris), as he rises through the ranks, facing emotional and physical tests.

Although the exact scene featuring the song hasn’t been officially disclosed, sources suggest it plays during a crucial emotional transition in the film possibly during a training montage, mental breakdown, or personal reflection.

The lyrics and tone suggest it's used during a moment of introspection, not action a quiet before the storm where the characters must confront their inner fears before returning to the racetrack.

A Global Soundtrack

The full F1 soundtrack (titled F1: The Album) is a high concept, multicultural project featuring global artists like:

• Ed Sheeran (with Dave Grohl & John Mayer)

• Rosé (BLACKPINK)

• Chris Stapleton

• Tiesto ft. Sexyy Red

• Roddy Ricch, Myke Towers, and more.

Curated by a team led by Lewis Hamilton, the album was designed to reflect the global spirit of Formula 1. Burna Boy’s inclusion is a nod to the rise of Afrobeats and its place in world music. It also highlights Africa’s growing cultural impact on entertainment and sports.

Hamilton reportedly previewed the song during early production and praised it as “a giant hit in the making.”

Visuals and Video

The official music video dropped on YouTube the same day as the soundtrack release. It mirrors the film’s themes: shadows, speed, and solitude. Burna Boy appears in stylized scenes intercut with racing imagery mirroring the blurred lines between personal and professional, art and pressure.

The video is minimal but emotionally loaded, using visual metaphors like rising water, lone headlights, and mirror reflections.

Cultural Impact

Burna Boy’s involvement in this project marks another significant leap in his global journey from Grammy winning albums to Hollywood soundtracks.

It’s not just a win for him it’s a win for Afrobeat artists everywhere. By taking center stage in a major Hollywood franchise, Burna Boy continues to dismantle genre barriers and redefine what African artists can do on the world stage.

Final Thoughts

“Don’t Let Me Drown” isn’t just a song. It’s a moment.
A moment where Afrobeat meets adrenaline.
Where emotion meets ambition.
Where a Nigerian superstar becomes part of a global cinematic story.

It speaks to anyone who has ever been overwhelmed, afraid, or desperately holding on and it does so with heart, rhythm, and raw honesty.