He Can Only Hold Her / Doo Wop
Amy Winehouse Lyrics


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He can only hold her for so long, the lights are on but no one's home
She's so vacant, her soul is taken
He thinks 'What's she running from?
Now, how can he have a heart? When it got stole
So he tries to pacify her, for what's inside her never dies

Even if she's contenting his wants, she is played with urgency
Searches the man she misses, the man that he longs to be
Now, how can he have her heart? When it got stole
So he tries to pacify her, 'cause what's inside her never dies





So he tries to pacify her, 'cause of what's inside her it never dies
So he tries to pacify her, for what's inside her never dies

Overall Meaning

In Amy Winehouse's song "Doo Wop," the artist speaks about a woman who is unable to connect with the man holding her. Despite the man's attempts to comfort her, she remains emotionally absent, and he wonders what it is that she is running from or mourning. The man is also dealing with his own emotional baggage, having had his heart broken before. The lyrics suggest that the woman may be trying to find someone who is not there or trying to replace a man who is no longer with her.


The repetition of the lyrics, "So he tries to pacify her," points to the man's attempts to soothe and comfort her. However, it seems that his attempts are futile as he cannot seem to connect with her. The song's chorus further highlights this inability to connect, as it suggests that the woman's soul has been taken, leaving her vacant and unable to truly love or be loved.


Overall, the song "Doo Wop" speaks to the pain of unrequited love and the struggles of trying to connect with someone who cannot, or will not, reciprocate feelings. It also touches upon themes of emotional unavailability and the consequences of past emotional trauma.


Line by Line Meaning

He can only hold her for so long, the lights are on but no one's home
He can only maintain a façade of love with her as there is no emotional connection.


She's so vacant, her soul is taken
She is lost, and her spirit is hollow.


He thinks 'What's she running from?
He wonders why she is so distant and emotionally detached.


Now, how can he have a heart? When it got stole
He is unable to connect and love her genuinely as he had lost his heart long back.


So he tries to pacify her, for what's inside her never dies
He attempts to comfort her to alleviate her emotional struggle, but realizes that her emptiness is too profound to be fixed.


Even if she's contenting his wants, she is played with urgency
Even though she may be fulfilling all his desires, he still senses that something is amiss with her.


Searches the man she misses, the man that he longs to be
She is searching for a deep emotional connection with someone who understands her inner turmoil.


So he tries to pacify her, 'cause what's inside her never dies
He attempts to offer solace to calm her and soothe her pain, but ultimately realizes that he cannot fill the emptiness within her.


So he tries to pacify her, 'cause of what's inside her it never dies
He tries to comfort her, knowing that her inner void is too profound to be filled completely.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Harrison, Richard Poindexter, Robert Poindexter, Amy Winehouse, Charles Harper

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

@tonilm9045

He can only hold her for so long
The lights are on but no one's home
She's so vacant Her soul is taken
He thinks "What's she running from?"
Now how can he have her heart
When it got stole
So he tries to pacify her
'Cause what's inside her never dies
Even if she's content in his warmth
She is plagued with urgency
Searching kisses
The man she misses
The man that he longs to be
Now how can he have her heart
When it got stole
So he tries to pacify her
'Cause what's inside her never dies
So he tries to pacify her
Cause what's inside her, it never dies

So he tries to pacify her
Cause what's inside her never dies



All comments from YouTube:

@714steven

Amy Winehouse is one in a million. I hate how some will label her as a troubled woman. No one knew her, I know I didn't but she was remarkable. Behind the tabloid's negative press on the drug abuse stories;  no one gives her credit. She had one of the most beautiful voices and was a talented songwriter. True artist. 

@johnreese7590

one in 10 billion

@rosahemker5198

I (almost) totally agree with you, but it is not true nobody gives her credit. Enough people (i mean, look at the comments on youtube) see how good she was 

@ayattalmasi5836

i love you for this comment <3

@KatKillahKills

Esteban Escamilla a lot of people give her credit, yes its true a lot of people first hear about her because of what happened in her life but once they hear that amazing voice they understand how amazingly talented she was a lot of people end up loving her they know she had an amazing talent and its sad she had to go the way she did.

@NubianGirl7

Well spoken ☺️

42 More Replies...

@Hockenduke

What's inside her never dies...

We miss the hell outta you Amy. Thanks for what you gave us in your short time here.

@eyesintheroad

woah that line tho

@Googlize1

Amy's dancing is so cute :-)

@johnreese7590

i know !!

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