The song became a sleeper hit, achieving international success and topping the charts in many countries around the world.

The song reached number two in the Dutch Top 40 in November 2012, spending a total of four non-consecutive weeks at that position.

[30] British singer Birdy recorded a cover version called "Let Him Go" in 2013 on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge.

[33] American trance singer JES released her cover version of the song titled "Let Him Go" in 2019.

[36] It was used also in the season 7 finale of the Canadian television show Heartland as the send-off song and in "500 Years of Solitude", the 100th episode of The Vampire Diaries.

[citation needed] Bluegrass band the Travelin' McCourys recorded the song at a Nashville studio, the Butcher Shoppe releasing the version on 13 January 2017.