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Holding on for Life
Broken Bells Lyrics


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Girl take a seat, rest your weary bones
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

Overall Meaning

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
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Comments from YouTube:

@OGshmo

I think the message behind the video/song is: You find love. You get interested in other things, you leave love behind. You then realize that you want that love back, and go looking for it - often, in other places rather than with the person that made you feel that way originally(our first love). Meanwhile, your entire life passes you by, you realize you're old.. but you're still holding onto that first love. You hold on for life.

@OzzersOz

Couldn't have said it any better

@ed6431

Yeah...but...on the other hand she made no effort to join in/explore/expand until it was too late for her too so she also missed out - hung around waiting and expecting rather than doing or trying anything...🤷‍♀️

@ShutUpWesley

@@ed6431 Exactly, it goes both ways. And I think that is also the point.

@bobafett3855

Some deep shit in this thread

@Jay-jo9ji

Love addiction is a serious problem in America

11 More Replies...

@chantelofarrell804

Rest in peace Anton Yelchin. Oh my God, so tragic. ♥

@koukoukou8

:(

@ebeest

Very sad.

@batuhanak431

I do love this song and I do not know who was Anton Yelchin cus I'm from Turkey but your comments made my hearth weird sorry for you guys lose I hope he Rests in peace :)

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