Holding on for Life
Broken Bells Lyrics
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Your secrets safe in my hands
Tell me about the years and
Let me buy an hour
Maybe help me to understand
Ooh ain't nobody callin'
Ain't nobody home
What a lovely day to be lonely
You're holding on for life
Holding on for life (oh)
Holding on for love
You're holding on for life
Holding on for life (oh)
Holding on for love
Light another cigarette
Burning in the cold
Waiting on the street for your man
You're trying not to look so
Young and miserable
You gotta get your kicks while you can
In the lighted corner, sitting on your own
What a lovely day to be lonely
You're holding on for life
Holding on for life (oh)
Holding on for love
You're holding on for life
Holding on for life (oh)
Holding on for love
Well you might belong to another time
Still you have to carry on here
No where else to go and you never know
What to hide and what to show, no
You're holding on for life
Holding on for life (oh)
Holding on for love
You're holding on for life
Holding on for life (oh)
Holding on for love
The lyrics of Broken Bells' song Holding on for Life describe a sense of loneliness and desperation that the singer feels. The first verse is addressed to a woman who is tired and feels like sharing her secrets. She is invited to sit down and share her story, and maybe the singer can help her understand or feel better for a while. However, the chorus reveals that the woman is holding on for life and love, suggesting that her situation is not easy to remedy. The second verse describes the woman waiting for her man, trying to look stronger than she feels.
The third verse suggests that the woman is living in a time that is not her own, and that she has to carry on even though she does not know what to hide or show. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the woman's struggle to hold on to life and love, and the song ends on this note of sadness and uncertainty.
Overall, Holding on for Life is a poignant and melancholic song that speaks to the listener's emotional core. It portrays the feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, and the unshakeable desire for love and connection that can be universal experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl take a seat, rest your weary bones
Sit down and relax, let your guard down and trust me with your secrets
Your secrets safe in my hands
You can trust me with your secrets and I will protect them
Tell me about the years and
Share your life experiences with me
Let me buy an hour
Allow me some time to understand you better
Maybe help me to understand
Perhaps by sharing your story, you can help me gain some insight
Ooh ain't nobody callin'
There's no one trying to contact you
Ain't nobody home
No one is there to talk to
What a lovely day to be lonely
It's a beautiful day, but you're still feeling lonely
You're holding on for life
You're barely hanging on and trying to survive
Holding on for life (oh)
You're desperately trying to stay alive
Holding on for love
You're holding onto the hope of finding love
Light another cigarette
You're lighting up a cigarette
Burning in the cold
You're feeling cold on the outside, but burning on the inside
Waiting on the street for your man
You're waiting outside for your partner
You're trying not to look so
You're attempting to hide your true emotions
Young and miserable
You're still young, but feeling very unhappy
You gotta get your kicks while you can
You need to enjoy yourself and have fun while you still have the chance
In the lighted corner, sitting on your own
You're sitting alone in the corner of a well-lit space
What a lovely day to be lonely
It's a beautiful day, but you're still feeling lonely
Well you might belong to another time
You might feel like you belong to a different era or generation
Still you have to carry on here
Nonetheless, you still have to keep going in this time and place
No where else to go and you never know
You feel like you have nowhere else to turn and are uncertain about the future
What to hide and what to show, no
You're unsure about what to reveal or conceal about yourself
You're holding on for life
You're barely hanging on and trying to survive
Holding on for life (oh)
You're desperately trying to stay alive
Holding on for love
You're holding onto the hope of finding love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James Russell Mercer, Brian Joseph Burton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MetalGod999
You know, the cool thing about Holding On for Life is that it sounds like a modern day Bee Gees track. If The Bee Gees were still making music in the 2010s, this is exactly what they would sound like. Plus, Holding On for Life sounds a lot like Nights on Broadway…which, incidentally, is my all-time favorite Bee Gees song.
@monicamichelle2391
Absolutely! The first time I heard this song I said "My God it's the Bee Gees reincarnated" Such a beautiful song! 🎶🎼
@robertbennett6898
2024 and this song still gets to me for some reason. Being young is fleeting and getting old is guaranteed and reminiscences of memories of what once was, is just that, a memory. Make the best of your life.
RIP Anton.
@Bungholecigarettes
Getting old is not guaranteed my friend be happy for each year
@MrBenBandy
This song and the accompanying video remind me that we've been here before and somehow I can't remember what I'm supposed to do... Except to keep going until it clicks into place. Brilliant song.
@excrono
@@MrBenBandy Read between the lines of everything you think you already know and eventually that purpose will find you in an unexpected place.
@winowarrior9392
Well said. Well sad also.
@S.D.M022
I think it’s kinda the opposite. If you keep waiting for “the one” or you’re the perfect person but not happy with the one that’s already there for you, you’ll probably die alone. Or maybe end up old at an old persons home. Idk
@HazeGreyAndUnderway
For everyone saying that this song has a big nostalgic feel similar to the Bee Gees, you're right on point. If you didn't know, Broken Bells is a collab group made of Danger Mouse and James Mercer of The Shins. They really let their experimental side come out with Broken Bells, hitting the music archetypes they both grew up on. Together, it's awesome. They both actually make a cameo in this video as the door guards at 1:40 and on. Pretty cool dudes.
@chrisherself
It also sounds super similar to Come Undone by Duran Duran.