The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Now you been holding me down
Hmm, for such a long time now
From back then 'till now in my story
Straight from the hood you've always been there for me
And you had my back when they
Back when everybody said I wasn't anything
It was you that kept me holding on, no matter what was going on
So whatever you need I got you yeah
Reminiscing that 6 train from way back
Now it's sky blue Phantoms and stretch Maybachs
For sweepin' them floors in them Bronx apartments
Mira esta que on the red carpet
When Pun died you was the first to call me
I never told you, but you was there for me
Whatever you need, I be there for you
Crack, I got ya back, for real, true story
Now my loyalty will always be
With you if you just promise me
That you'll stay real just like you are
'Cause baby you don't have to change no
You don't know how much you mean to me
Whenever your down you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, boy I'm gon' hold you down
You don't know how much you mean to me
Whenever your down you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, girl I'm gon' hold you down
Yo, 2005, Rakim and Jody Watley
Watch me paint a picture so perfect quite possibly
The realest freshest from BX to South beach
I'ma always hold you down, girl you can count on me
So remember this whenever I call
We go back too far, we been through it all
Even though, we haven't spoken so long
Ain't nothing change, not a damn thing baby
Now my loyalty will always be
With you if you just promise me
That you'll stay real just like you are
'Cause baby you don't have to change no ('cause you don't know)
You don't know how much you mean to me
Whenever your down you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, boy I'm gon' hold you down
You don't know how much you mean to me
Whenever your down you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, girl I'm gon' hold you down
Like green is the autumn, some things must stay
This industry yeah I'm far to make me this way
Get between me and J-Lo, I simply stay
You better off sweepin' leaves on a windy day
So I don't care about the situation
I'ma ride for you if there's a complication
'Cause every time you had my back and all
When we were young, now you're Joey crack and all
Now my loyalty will always be
With you if you just promise me
That you'll stay real just like you are
'Cause baby you don't have to change because
You don't know how much you mean to me
Whenever you're down you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, boy I'm gon' hold you down
You don't know how much you mean to me
Whenever you're down you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, girl I'm gon' hold you down
You don't know how much you mean to me
Whenever you're down you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, I'm gon' hold you down
You don't know how much you mean to me
Whenever you're down you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, I'm gon' hold you down
Hold you down
Down, down
I'm gon' hold you down
Oh
You down
Hmm, for such a long time now
From back then 'till now in my story
Straight from the hood you've always been there for me
And you had my back when they
Back when everybody said I wasn't anything
It was you that kept me holding on, no matter what was going on
So whatever you need I got you yeah
Reminiscing that 6 train from way back
Now it's sky blue Phantoms and stretch Maybachs
For sweepin' them floors in them Bronx apartments
Mira esta que on the red carpet
When Pun died you was the first to call me
I never told you, but you was there for me
Whatever you need, I be there for you
Crack, I got ya back, for real, true story
Now my loyalty will always be
With you if you just promise me
That you'll stay real just like you are
'Cause baby you don't have to change no
You don't know how much you mean to me
Whenever your down you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, boy I'm gon' hold you down
You don't know how much you mean to me
Whenever your down you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, girl I'm gon' hold you down
Yo, 2005, Rakim and Jody Watley
Watch me paint a picture so perfect quite possibly
The realest freshest from BX to South beach
I'ma always hold you down, girl you can count on me
So remember this whenever I call
We go back too far, we been through it all
Even though, we haven't spoken so long
Ain't nothing change, not a damn thing baby
Now my loyalty will always be
With you if you just promise me
That you'll stay real just like you are
'Cause baby you don't have to change no ('cause you don't know)
You don't know how much you mean to me
Whenever your down you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, boy I'm gon' hold you down
You don't know how much you mean to me
Whenever your down you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, girl I'm gon' hold you down
Like green is the autumn, some things must stay
This industry yeah I'm far to make me this way
Get between me and J-Lo, I simply stay
You better off sweepin' leaves on a windy day
So I don't care about the situation
I'ma ride for you if there's a complication
'Cause every time you had my back and all
When we were young, now you're Joey crack and all
Now my loyalty will always be
With you if you just promise me
That you'll stay real just like you are
'Cause baby you don't have to change because
You don't know how much you mean to me
Whenever you're down you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, boy I'm gon' hold you down
You don't know how much you mean to me
Whenever you're down you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, girl I'm gon' hold you down
You don't know how much you mean to me
Whenever you're down you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, I'm gon' hold you down
You don't know how much you mean to me
Whenever you're down you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, I'm gon' hold you down
Hold you down
Down, down
I'm gon' hold you down
Oh
You down
Lyrics submitted by babygrl814
Hold You Down Lyrics as written by Gregory N Bruno William N Beck
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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