Holding On To You

Album: Vibrator (1995)
Charted: 20
Play Video
  • I left the east side for a west coast beauty
    A girl who burned my thoughts like kisses
    She was down by street decree
    She swore she'd pull my best years out of me
    Fat painted lips on a live wire beauty
    A tangerine girl with tambourine eyes
    Her face was my favourite magazine
    Her body was my favourite book to read
    They say that all poets must have an unrequited love
    As all lovers must have thought-provoking fears
    But holding on to you means letting go of pain
    Means letting go of tears
    Means letting go of rain
    Means letting go of what's not real
    Holding on to you, oh

    I left the rough side for a seaside baby
    A chamomile smile that pouts on cue, ha
    For every moment I breathe her sigh
    Her bosom contains my sweet alibi, yeah
    In an emotional mist she breathes in fog
    And breathes it out as garden flowers
    Why me of all the tough-talking boys?
    I guess she heard my heartbeat through the noise
    They say that all poets must have an unrequited love, yes they do, ha
    As all lovers must have thought-provoking fears
    But holding on to you means letting go of pain
    Means letting go of tears
    Means letting go of rain
    Holding on to you, ha
    Means letting sorrows heal
    Means letting go of what's not real, yeah
    Holding on to you, yeah, woo-hoo!

    Wah, heard some people say that all poets must have an unrequited love, ha
    As all lovers I'm sure must have thought-provoking fears, yeah
    But holding on to you means letting sorrows heal
    Means letting go of what's not real
    Holding on to you
    I left the east coast for a west coast beauty
    A woman who wet my thoughts like kisses
    She was down, down by street decree
    She swore she'd pull my best years out of me
    Fat wet lips on a sea salt canvas
    Goodbye Picasso, hello Dolly
    The soil is fertile where her footsteps trod
    She's my new religion, she's all I got
    They say that all poets must have an unrequited love, yes they do, ha
    As all lovers, I'm sure must have thought-provoking fears, yeah
    But holding on to you means letting go of pain
    Means letting go of tears
    Means letting go of rain
    Holding on to you, ha
    Means letting sorrows heal
    It means letting go
    It means letting go of pain
    It means letting go of pain, yeah
    Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, whoo
    It means letting go of tears, it means letting go of rain
    It means turning the page
    And letting go of pain
    Woo-hoo, yes it does, yes it does, yes it does Writer/s: TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 3

  • Mary L. from Tutwiler Ms.I live this song!! Was it really originally written for Rod Stewart?
  • Dawn Vitale from New OrleansThis Song Saved My Life
  • Alan from London, EnglandIt is about entering a new exciting relationship full of hope and optimism. The word play used in such phrases as 'Goodbye Picasso, Hello Dali (Dolly)' is wonderful
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Marvin Gaye

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.

Bible Lyrics

Bible LyricsMusic Quiz

Rockers, rappers and pop stars have been known to quote the Bible in their songs. See if you match the artist to the biblical lyric.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.