All men with stars upon the chest
Save yourselves, your family
Don't worry 'bout the rest
Small child receives light through the crack
The human mile, they're never coming back
Hold out your hand and ask for some
Now and again she sits beneath the tree
The sign above reads
Hard work will set you free
Hold out your hand and ask for some
Too late for another direction
Always what we've got in store
Hurry back we've all been waiting
We can't take much anymore
Where are the days where brothers are brothers
A childless mother
Leave it except for one


Lyrics submitted by lemonie_fresh

Hold Out Your Hand Lyrics as written by Michael Douglas Henry Kroeger Chad Kroeger

Lyrics © Regard Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Hold Out Your Hand song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment

    I THINK THIS MEANS THAT A FAMILY SHOULD STAY CLOSE TO YOUR HEART AND WILL BE A PART OF YOU FOREVER. KEEP YOUR FAMILY. IT IS ABOUT LIFE AND STRUGGLING THROUGH LIFE.

    TRUDIE040on April 19, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Its all about the Halocaust during WW2. Abiect Mact Frie (i believe) means work will set you free

    big_wreckon June 04, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think nickleback shouldnt write songs about the halocaust

    rbfboy212on June 04, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about the Holocaust.

    As big_wreck said above, Abiect Mact Frie does mean work will set you free. It was what was written on the entrence of one of the death camps the Nazi's had. Other clues in the song point to the Holocaust too like when he mentions the stars... the stars of david were put on the Jewish people to point out they were jewish. Also "The human mile... they're never coming back", possibly how they were lined up and set into the death chambers....

    I don't know why Nickelback would have written this song, other than to show how bad the whole incodent was.

    MattG3169on June 15, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Arbeit Macht Frei literally means Work Makes Freedom. and was written about the entrace to Auschwitz, i believe.

    Bohemianon June 18, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    what album is this from?

    rockerchick519on May 18, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is from the album The State. It is about the Holocaust, and no, I don't think they mean anything bad about it. In fact, they're trying to convey how horrible it was. A history lesson through songwriting. Interesting. I have been to the Holocaust museum in Washington, D.C., and there is a sign that they put at the entrance to the concentration camps, and yes, it did say "Hard work will set you free". I walked under one of the actual signs. Kinda creepy. Also, the stars upon the chest, as MattG3169 mentioned, is in fact the Stars of David the Jews were required to wear. "Hold out your hand and ask for some" seems like a confusing lyric. Should these people who were murdered should have held out their hands and ask for something? But what? I think it was freedom. "Small child receives light through the crack" I think is a child hiding from the Nazis as they are being sent to the death chambers. "A human mile, ain't never coming back". Actually, and this is absolutely horrible, the Nazis would have holes with glass or something over them on top of the death/gas chambers where they could watch these innocent people die. The Holocaust museum was amazing; if you ever get the chance you should visit it. I used to be a Jehovah's Witness, and they were also persecuted during the Holocaust because their religion states that they can't go to war. It wasn't just them...people were also killed just because of their sexual status, or just because they didn't have "the look". If you don't believe me, look it up. Also, I read somewhere, and this may not be correct, that the Jehovah's Witnesses could be set free if they denounced their faith, and not one did. Anyway, I didn't write this to give you a history lesson, but I don't think my interpretation of the song was very accurate. Oh well...I hope someday someone will come to this page besides me and translate some of the more confusing lyrics.

    mb20rox111on November 05, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song refer to concentration camps and the perscution of the jewish people but between the lines i think its about staying strong

    Silversideon June 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is definately about the holocaust. Thers been lots of stuff dun about the holocaust but to here 1 of my favourite bands do it was very meaningful. Its cleverly written, I didnt realise at first wht it was about bt wen i realised it meant so much mor 2 me, and it was one of my favourite songs b4 tht. I think Nickelback is makin a very good point, and we cant afford to 4get these crimes, or else they mite happen again.

    devilish_leoon April 16, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    tht comment is realy meaningless if ur gona say tht @ least giv a reason ovawise ur just wastin space, n bsides, i dnt go on ur fave bands forums n say they suck

    devilish_leoon April 17, 2007   Link

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