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Hold The Girl
Rina Sawayama Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Reach inside and hold you close
I won't leave you on your own
Teach me the words I used to know
Yeah, I forgot 'em long ago
So hold the girl
Hold the girl
Hold the girl
Hold the girl

Hold that girl
Hold that girl
Hold that girl

Sometimes I get down with guilt
For the promises I've broken to my younger self
Moving on, maybe I never will
'Cause I left you spinning on the carousel

Been living without you
Been living without you

Reach inside and hold you close
I won't leave you on your own
Teach me the words I used to know
Yeah, I forgot 'em long ago
I wanna remember
She is me and I am her
So hold the girl
Hold the girl

(You gotta) Hold that girl
(You gotta) Hold that girl (ooh)
(You gotta) Hold that girl
(You gotta)

Sometimes I just wanna run away (run away)
Leave behind that old me, start again (start again)
Then I'll remember who I'm really made of (who I'm made of)
And she's been hide-and-seeking, waiting all alone

Been living without you
Been living without you (oh)

Reach inside and hold you close
I won't leave you on your own
Teach me the words I used to know
Yeah, I forgot 'em long ago
I wanna remember
She is me and I am her
So hold the girl
Hold the girl

Close to your heart
Never ever let her go (never let you go)
They'll tell you to sit up, and shut up, and grow up
What the hell do they know?
'Cause the girl in your soul's singing on
And you owe her the world

So hold the girl
Hold the girl

Reach inside and hold you close
I won't leave you on your own
Teach me the words I used to know
Yeah, I forgot about 'em so long ago

Reach inside and hold you close
I won't leave you on your own
Teach me the words I used to know
Yeah, I forgot 'em long ago
I wanna remember
She is me and I am her
So hold the girl
Hold the girl

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rina Sawayama's song "Hold The Girl" convey a message of self-acceptance and self-empowerment. The repetition of the phrase "Hold the girl" throughout the song signifies the act of embracing and cherishing one's own identity and inner self. It emphasizes the need to nurture and protect the vulnerable parts of oneself that may have been neglected or forgotten over time.


The verses speak to the feelings of guilt and regret that the artist experiences, particularly in regard to the promises made to her younger self. The carousel metaphor symbolizes the constant cycle of self-doubt and self-discovery that she has been caught in, leaving her feeling lost and disconnected from her true essence. The desire to remember and reconnect with the girl she used to be becomes a driving force behind the lyrics.


As the song progresses, it becomes an anthem of resilience and defiance against societal expectations. The artist expresses the need to break free from societal pressures and expectations and embrace her authentic self. The line "They'll tell you to sit up, and shut up, and grow up, what the hell do they know?" challenges the idea that conformity is necessary for personal growth and urges individuals to stay true to themselves despite external judgment.


Overall, "Hold The Girl" is a powerful and uplifting song that encourages listeners to honor and embrace their true selves, reminding them that they are deserving of love, acceptance, and self-care.


Line by Line Meaning

Reach inside and hold you close
Embrace your true self and hold onto it tightly


I won't leave you on your own
I won't abandon my authentic self


Teach me the words I used to know
Help me regain the language of self-acceptance that I once had


Yeah, I forgot 'em long ago
I have long forgotten how to express self-love


So hold the girl
Embrace and accept the true self


Hold the girl
Embrace and accept the true self


Hold that girl
Embrace and accept the true self


Hold that girl
Embrace and accept the true self


Sometimes I get down with guilt
Sometimes I feel burdened by guilt


For the promises I've broken to my younger self
For not fulfilling the promises I made to my younger self


Moving on, maybe I never will
Maybe I'll never truly move on


'Cause I left you spinning on the carousel
Because I abandoned and left my authentic self lost and confused


Been living without you
I have been living without my true self


Reach inside and hold you close
Embrace your true self and hold onto it tightly


I won't leave you on your own
I won't abandon my authentic self


Teach me the words I used to know
Help me regain the language of self-acceptance that I once had


Yeah, I forgot 'em long ago
I have long forgotten how to express self-love


I wanna remember
I want to regain the memory of self-acceptance


She is me and I am her
My authentic self is who I truly am


So hold the girl
Embrace and accept the true self


(You gotta) Hold that girl
You must embrace and accept the true self


(You gotta) Hold that girl (ooh)
You must embrace and accept the true self


(You gotta) Hold that girl
You must embrace and accept the true self


Sometimes I just wanna run away (run away)
Sometimes I have the urge to escape from my true self


Leave behind that old me, start again (start again)
Leave behind my past self and start afresh


Then I'll remember who I'm really made of (who I'm made of)
Then I'll remember my true essence and identity


And she's been hide-and-seeking, waiting all alone
My authentic self has been hiding and waiting for acceptance


Been living without you
I have been living without my true self


Been living without you (oh)
I have been living without my true self


Close to your heart
Keep your true self close to your heart


Never ever let her go (never let you go)
Never let go of your true self


They'll tell you to sit up, and shut up, and grow up
Society will demand conformity, silence, and conformity to adult norms


What the hell do they know?
What do they know about who you truly are?


'Cause the girl in your soul's singing on
Because your authentic self is still yearning to be heard


And you owe her the world
You have a debt to pay to your true self


Reach inside and hold you close
Embrace your true self and hold onto it tightly


I won't leave you on your own
I won't abandon my authentic self


Teach me the words I used to know
Help me regain the language of self-acceptance that I once had


Yeah, I forgot 'em long ago
I have long forgotten how to express self-love


I wanna remember
I want to regain the memory of self-acceptance


She is me and I am her
My authentic self is who I truly am


So hold the girl
Embrace and accept the true self


Hold the girl
Embrace and accept the true self




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Barnabas Greenwell Lister, Jonny Lattimer, Rina Sawayama

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@louschwick7301

@Gunnar Eðvarðsson  yes. Gaga is a classically trained NYU undergrad child piano prodigy with a mastery of various historical musical genres and a very strong instinct for monstrously catchy hooks. She is a powerful vocalist and great dancer in platform heels. She's been performing live since she was 15, and is more at home on stage than I presume her childhood room. She nearly danced thru an injured hip live in concert. She was THE pop star of the 2008-13 pop boom

... oh wait were u talking about lyrical content?

lol.

"ra ra ra ah ah ga ga ooh la la" is the best u can hope for

Even when she's trying to be deep and meaningful, her turns of phrase usually fly as well as a goat, more often than not very blunt and obvious. Look at born this way, for example. Angel down is serious Gaga done right but it's the only example I can think of that I'd say is really good



@Bigb00bs_umchileanywaysso

Lyrics:

Reach inside and hold you close
I won't leave you on your own
Teach me the words I used to know
Yeah, I forgot 'em Iong ago
So hold the girl
Hold the girl
Hold the girl
Hold the girl
Hold that girl
Hold that girl
Hold that girl

Sometimes, I get down with guilt
For the promises I've broken to my younger self
Moving on, maybe l never will
'Cause I left you spinning on the carousel

Been living without you
Been living without you

Reach inside and hold you close
I won't leave you on your own
Teach me the words I used to know
Yeah, l forgot 'em long ago
I wanna remember
She is me and I am her
So hold the girl
Hold the girl
Hold that girl
Hold that girl
Hold that girl

Sometimes, I just wanna run away (run away)
Leave behind that old me, start again (start again)
Then I remember who l'm really made of (who I'm made of)
And she's been hide-and-seeking, waiting all along

Been living without you
Been living without you, oh

Reach inside and hold you close
I won't leave you on your own
Teach me the words I used to know
Yeah, l forgot 'em long ago
I wanna remember
She is me and I am her
So hold the girl
Hold the girl

Close to your heart
Never, ever let you go (never let you go)
They'll tell you to sit up and shut up and grow up
What the hell do they know?
'Cause the girl in your soul's seen it all
And you owe her the world
So hold the girl
Hold the girl

Reach inside and hold you close
I won't leave you on your own
Teach me the words I used to know
Yeah, l forgot about 'em so long ago
Reach inside and hold you close
I won't leave you on your own
Teach me the words I used to know
Yeah, l forgot 'em long ago
I wanna remember
She is me and I am her
So hold the girl
Hold the girl



All comments from YouTube:

@mikesmic

This is a galactic slay I’m so serious

@OrlandoYass

So true bestie

@jamesdavid6985

dont we just love it when michael microphones

@edisr8571

hello mr microphone

@FaiaHalo

SO TRUE

@fruitymeadows

rina's muse is commenting!!!

36 More Replies...

@professorrock4698

The night this audio came out my parents had an enormous fight. I have a 6 year old sister, and so I took her away from the shouting and made noise and played with her and helped her to sleep. When I heard the song I cried so much because I remembered being her age and being all alone, and I had been holding and protecting my sister in a way that no one held me. So the title/refrain has a double meaning, holding my younger self in my head as my current self, and holding my sister in her stead, taking care of her in all the ways I can, because I didn't have anyone to take care of me but she does.

@YoungPhenix

You keep being her shield you beautiful human

@protojayplays6169

Sadly being the youngest in my family. Although I still protected my brothers. I was the only one who had the bravery to stand up to my father. However that would end in inhumane torture but still. I'm alive and hopefully my damned father isnt.

@gmc5618

I'm so glad your little sister has you looking out for her xx

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