This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
And I'm waiting for the day
I know you've got your part
And I'm waiting for the day
I know you'll have the heart
And I'm hoping that you'll say
That you loved me all this time
But it turns out just the same
And you break apart the things I had
Hold on, what did you say that for?
Hold on, what did you say that for?
Hold on, what do you take me for?
Hold on, what do you take me for?
And I'm waiting for the day
Inside my mother's clothing store
And I'm waiting for the day
What am I waiting for?
Hold on, what did you say that for?
Hold on, what did you say that for?
Hold on, what do you take me for?
Hold on, what did you say that for?
I know you've got your part
And I'm waiting for the day
I know you'll have the heart
And I'm hoping that you'll say
That you loved me all this time
But it turns out just the same
And you break apart the things I had
Hold on, what did you say that for?
Hold on, what did you say that for?
Hold on, what do you take me for?
Hold on, what do you take me for?
And I'm waiting for the day
Inside my mother's clothing store
And I'm waiting for the day
What am I waiting for?
Hold on, what did you say that for?
Hold on, what did you say that for?
Hold on, what do you take me for?
Hold on, what did you say that for?
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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damn.... i definately connect with this song. i've been waiting for the day for this one guy to open up to me and tell me how he really feels but i've been waiting for too long. he's kind of bipolar so all his emotions get fucked up and some stuff he says don't come out right. i know deep down he wants to be with me though, he's just scared. he's scared imma get hurt:/
Like many of their songs, I think the meaning of 'Hold On' can be interpreted and representative of many situations.
To me, today, this song is about love, and waiting for love to be realised.
The first verse talks about waiting for someone, waiting in the hope that they will one day become the one to walk by your side. Waiting for the guy to show his vulnerability and take the chance that she might just feel the same way.
Her long lived hope and desire for him to love her the way that she loves him. Waiting for him until he feels the time, place and space is right to commit to something more.
Time continues to pass by and she continues to wait, holding out for the day he sees her and loves her in the way she does him. Despite the conscious decision to 'hold on', nothing changes and he 'breaks apart' the hope and desire she holds for something more with him.
The chorus is about her questioning why she allowed herself to wait for so long - not even considering other options as she was committed to him, or at least, committed to the idea of him and what they could share together.
The second verse is about her continuing to wait, in the safety of the space she knows. Perhaps justifying her decision (to 'hold on') to her friends / family, and maybe even to herself.
The chorus at the end may be about questioning him, if he had once told her to 'hold on' (until he gets himself sorted), but more likely about her questioning herself.
The above is how I interpret this song, today, as I feel it relates pretty well to something going on in my world. Tomorrow, the meaning could be different...
Saw them live tonight at the Thebarton Theatre in Adelaide, and Julia sang the house down with this track. So fragile, so ethereal - you could have heard a pin drop.
I like this song, Im suprised it doesn't have more responces.
about loving someone that doesn't seem to have a heart, and waiting on them to change but they won't..?
For me it's about love, waiting and disappointment. And about finally realizing that something you desperately wanted is not worth waiting for.
Beautiful song. I guess you can interpret it in many ways, but I also believe it's a song that easily can become important to you, and help you through a similar feeling.
i totally agree with mathilde
the first time i heard this song i was laying on this girls bed high as hell vibin with the lights off. we'd been seein each other for about 2 weeks. but prior to that i cut all connection with her for a year. i think its funny how relative this song is to our situation. the only difference is that we're good in the end..
This song has the exact same melody as one of their other songs! All Of Me, from the Chocolates & Cigarettes EP.
Also, same as This Old Wound by Dashboard Confessional. Not saying they ripped anyone off, it's a pretty basic melody, but to use it twice for your own songs is a bit strange... Oh well. Nice song.
Alot of Julia's songs seem to relate to one guy.. "A book like this" "All of me" "Hold on" Theres probably others... It seems he's a regular occurance, continually leaving her waiting, yet she won't let go.
Dazonic- they're probably ment to go together, if u look at the lyrics to all of me & hold on, I think they relate.
I think this song is about how she was led on. How a boy said something beautiful that meant so much to hear yet he breaks her heart but she still doesn't want to let go because she hopes these words will become true