☝️ Key Points
- 'Holding back the years' symbolizes holding onto the past and the desire to stop time
- 'Thinking of the fear I've had so long' suggests long-lasting fear or insecurity
- 'Strangled by the wishes of Pater, Hoping for the arms of Mater' depicts a complicated family dynamic and a desire for maternal comfort
- 'Holding back the tears, Cause nothing here has grown' expresses feelings of stagnation and sadness
- 'And nothing had the chance to be good, Nothing ever could' is an expression of hopelessness and regret
- The repeated refrain 'I'll keep holding on' underscores the singer's determination to keep going despite all difficulties
Interpretation
The lyrics of 'Holding Back the Years' by
Simply Red are about deep emotions and experiences associated with loss, longing, and regret.
'Holding back the years' means to hold back or restrain time. The singer seems to yearn for past times and tries to keep the memories of them alive. 'Thinking of the fear I've had so long' suggests a long-standing fear or insecurity that he has carried with him for a long time.
'Strangled by the wishes of Pater, Hoping for the arms of Mater' portrays a family dynamic where the singer feels entangled in the expectations of a father and longs for the comfort of a mother. This could indicate a difficult childhood or family issues.
'Holding back the tears, Cause nothing here has grown' expresses a feeling of stagnation and sadness. The singer feels as if he hasn't made progress or as if nothing in his life has borne fruit, which brings him to tears.
'And nothing had the chance to be good, Nothing ever could' is an expression of hopelessness and regret. It seems as if the singer feels that nothing in his life could ever be good, no matter how much he tries.
The repeated refrain 'I'll keep holding on' underscores the singer's determination to keep going despite all the difficulties and hold on to his memories and hopes. It is a song about the human experience of pain, loss, and the strength to carry on.