Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
And if it's bad
Don't let it get you down, you can take it
And if it hurts
Don't let them see you cry, you can make it
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high
And if they stare
Just let them burn their eyes on you moving
And if they shout
Don't let it change a thing that you're doing
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high
And if they stare
Just let them burn their eyes on you moving
And if they shout
Don't let it change a thing that you're doing
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Don't let it get you down, you can take it
And if it hurts
Don't let them see you cry, you can make it
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high
And if they stare
Just let them burn their eyes on you moving
And if they shout
Don't let it change a thing that you're doing
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high
And if they stare
Just let them burn their eyes on you moving
And if they shout
Don't let it change a thing that you're doing
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Lyrics submitted by planetearth
Hold Your Head Up Lyrics as written by R. Argent C. White
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
i'm pretty sure they're saying "Oh" or "whoa", it sounds nothing like "woman" but it would be cool though.
I like to think it is how JESUS tells us to react to struggles in all of our lives. It's probably not but i can hear it any way i choose....America, what a country and i STILL love it!
I guess this a song about a man encouraging through a tough time in her life. It could even be a tune praising the woman's movement. I don't know of many men who did such a thing. This is a great song to sing out loud and it's a classic!
I like this song with the volume up loud. One of my all-time favorites. Good beat and upbeat!
I always thought it was "Oh" instead of "woman" I'm probably wrong. Oh well, fuck it. Great song either way.
I agree about the women's movement comment. I always thought (but wasn't sure) he was singing "woman" in the chorus. BTW, I also thought the line was "burn their eyes on your MOVIE," but I could be wrong. (I like mine better LOL). Great track. One of the first 45's I ever owned as a grade school kid.
Last night at a Zombies concert in Dallas, Rod Argent said that the words were indeed, "Hold your head up, woman." It's about empowerment when times are tough. They played a rousing rendition of it!
The lyrics are wrong - Rod Argent has confirmed several times that it is "woman" not "oh", and if you watch Zombies 2011 west London performance of it, this is very clear (it's on Youtube).
I think the song is about a guy telling his girlfriend to ignore people that are rude to her and to think positive!
First of all, I didn't realize how many times they actually say "hold your head up." If anything, that's a testament to how much I like the music itself; I'm so entranced by the sound of the singer and the instruments that the meaning is an afterthought, even though it is quite obvious. I would like to know the context of these lyrics, however. I feel like they just needed lyrics and thought "woman" would sound good (I'm young but I know a lot of older songs use the word "woman" in that filler-ish way), and it's not about a specific woman or the women's movement. That would explain the very general verses, too.