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"
Bless my heart
Bless my soul
Didn't think I'd make it to twenty-two years old
There must be someone up above
Saying, "Come on Brittany, you got to come on up"
You got to hold on
Yeah, you got to hold on
So, bless my heart and bless yours, too
I don't know where I'm gonna go
Don't know what what I'm gonna do
Well, must be somebody up above
Saying, "Come on Brittany, you got to come on up"
You got to hold on
Yeah, you got to hold on
Yeah, you got to wait
Yeah, you got to wait
But I don't wanna wait
I don't wanna wait
So, bless my heart
Bless my mind
I got so much to do
I ain't got much time
So, must be someone up above
Saying, "Come on girl, yeah, you got to get back up"
You got to hold on
Yeah, you got to hold on
Yeah, you got to wait
I don't wanna wait
Well, I don't wanna wait
No, I don't wanna wait
You got to hold on
You got to hold on
You've gotta hold on
You gotta hold on
Bless my soul
Didn't think I'd make it to twenty-two years old
There must be someone up above
Saying, "Come on Brittany, you got to come on up"
You got to hold on
Yeah, you got to hold on
So, bless my heart and bless yours, too
I don't know where I'm gonna go
Don't know what what I'm gonna do
Well, must be somebody up above
Saying, "Come on Brittany, you got to come on up"
You got to hold on
Yeah, you got to hold on
Yeah, you got to wait
Yeah, you got to wait
But I don't wanna wait
I don't wanna wait
So, bless my heart
Bless my mind
I got so much to do
I ain't got much time
So, must be someone up above
Saying, "Come on girl, yeah, you got to get back up"
You got to hold on
Yeah, you got to hold on
Yeah, you got to wait
I don't wanna wait
Well, I don't wanna wait
No, I don't wanna wait
You got to hold on
You got to hold on
You've gotta hold on
You gotta hold on
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I have never created an account like this before. -Considering my recent past experience I had to share my story. My name is Brittany, I am 23 yrs old and I live near Chicago, IL. This past August I was going through a rough time mentally, my anxiety got high because of thinking about my future and all these expectations I needed to live up to. I was admitted to a behavioral health hospital and stayed for 34 days. My doctor gave me 5 different medictions to try which took me trough a mental loop. It was the most difficult time of my life. I was 22 at the time, and didn't trust a soul that was trying to help. I looked towards God for guidance which was new for me. I hope the Alabama Shakes see this because I feel like this song completely relates to my experience while in the hospital. I am well now and highly independent and functional. It simply blows my mind that the song release date was during the same month I was released from the hospital. Thank you to the Alabama Shakes for making such an amazing song.
dude this is crazy!!!!!! you just posted your comment on 4/16/2012 which is the day i started my new job. look at the comments i JUST posted on the youtube video of this song, and see if our situations aren't STRIKINGLY SIMILAR: i was also raped of my virginity which i was saving for marriage at the age of 22. my mother found the blood spot on the bed and kicked me out of my grandmother's house saying that i had "spread my legs". when she did that, i thought i could never go on~my heart was so broken. it's as if God is saying, "look how, since the age of 22, i have gone on preserving you"....<br /> <br /> poetessbritt 31 minutes ago<br /> <br /> omg this is INSANE!! i was in my car freaking out from fear and depression/suicidal thoughts from everything that was going on when i was trying to get a job a few months ago....i turned on the radio, and this song was on. i had never heard it before, but it has mysteriously been on the radio several times since then when i really needed to hear it. i just looked up the lyrics for the first time, and it even spells my name~brittany~correctly!! i swear im not making this up to be the top comment<br /> <br /> poetessbritt 53 minutes ago
i'm 29 now...God has saved my life for 7 years now (in the Bible, God's number is the number 7). i was sincerely hoping that alabama shakes would see what i had written as well. i know this may sound very strange to you, but if you would like to be facebook friends or something, that would be awesome. i also have proof that these things happened to me, if you require proof. maybe something good, another small miracle, can come out of this?
and check this out..ive been talking to my friend elizabeth ann on fb about how weird it is that this song mentions my name and that i have been hearing it at times when i really needed some saving, and i told her about what you said on here. her birthday is 4/16 and she lives outside of chicago!!
Seems to be about someone who is struggling with life. The narrator is ready for the afterlife, but it isn't ready for her. She's go to "hold on"
Can’t believe no one commented on this song yet! Great song in my opinion, the singing, the guitar playing.. The lyrics aren’t that special but her voice (I thought it was a man honestly, unit I saw the video) is great and together with the guitar playing everything just sounds right. Is it strange that I’m comparing it with the White Stripes for a bit? Sometimes they have the same sound in my opinion..
Great song. Love it!
the song is amazing. the sound is perfect - its as if they've been making music together for decades.
i like the lyrics a lot. they're simple yet beautiful. i can't imagine she's talking about anything but heaven. I'm a christian, and i hope I'm not imposing my own experiences on the music, but I've felt like i wish heaven was a reality to me right now and i could just go on up and start the rest of eternity, but gods telling me theres stuff to do here.
its sweet to see the progression of her mindset, from expecting death early on, to being unsure of what do to in this waiting period before a hopeful afterlife, to accepting her instruction to wait. she knows theres stuff for her to do here. i can't be the only one who sees this meaning...
Love the song for Brittany's vocals and the band's rather unique blend of blues and southern rock. I saw them perform this song on Letterman's show and was blown away. Within minutes after their appearance I downloaded the song and the lyrics and read about them on Wickipedia.
I totally agree with Mr850! I just heard this song for the 1st time today! lol Sooo catchy, and i honestly thought it was the White Stripes at first . Def reminds me of them..Great tune!! I love the guitar, sounds a little bluesy and i looove the blues :)Def love it, downloaded it and im gonna check out more of their album :)
Alabama Shakes are a brilliant Southern Rock/Country/Blues band and the key to Rock's future. They may be retro but I take it as a compliment. From Birmingham Down South to across the pond in London Where It Was Recorded Under the British Sky, Hold On is one of the Top 10 Rock Songs of the 21st Century-proving you don't need an ironic viewpoint or techno clutter to get your point across. There is Faith, Hope and Love for rock
The meaning of this song is the struggle in life, Brittany sing about the lost of her sister, the desease, and i guess also of racism 'bout collor, gender, her lesbian life. The voice of someone up above 's calling but she won't give up. This song is so powerfull. i love it!!
The meaning of this song is the struggle in life, Brittany sing about the lost of her sister, the desease, and i guess also of racism 'bout collor, gender, her lesbian life. The voice of someone up above 's calling but she won't give up. This song is so powerfull. i love it!!