The lyrics are clearly about a romantic relationship that is ending and the singer is acknowledging that he wasn't always faithful to his departing partner. The "holdout' idea is just a way of saying that one party or both are not settling for an unsatisfactory relationship so they're seeking a partner they will feel closer, more connected, and more committed to.
But there's also something worth noticing about the melody -- it's based on one of the great melodies of rock 'n roll -- Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale." It's not a note-for-note ripoff of the whole Whiter Shade melody but has enough of the same chord progression to be readily recognizable. Browne knew that and talked about it in interviews at the time. .
The lyrics are clearly about a romantic relationship that is ending and the singer is acknowledging that he wasn't always faithful to his departing partner. The "holdout' idea is just a way of saying that one party or both are not settling for an unsatisfactory relationship so they're seeking a partner they will feel closer, more connected, and more committed to.
But there's also something worth noticing about the melody -- it's based on one of the great melodies of rock 'n roll -- Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale." It's not a note-for-note ripoff of the whole Whiter Shade melody but has enough of the same chord progression to be readily recognizable. Browne knew that and talked about it in interviews at the time. .
[Edit: misspelling corrected]