Keith Vogelsong (The Blue Hour) had recently moved to New York to relocate the record label he runs, Goodnight Records. Five minutes after he got off the plane, Ashley nabbed him as Anthem In’s bassist. Drummer Paul Petitto was procured by theft from the band he was playing with at the time, Russian Vogue. Rob Miller had just moved to New York from Austin where he was writing his own solo material. Allen asked him to come on as lead guitarist, and Anthem In was complete.
Anthem In released it's debut self-titled album in June of 2008 on Quiet/Loud Records. The album entered the CMJ charts at #118 and continued to chart at stations across the country for 13 consecutive weeks. In April of 2008 the band filmed a video for the song "Down" with director Will Joines. The video debuted on both Fuse and MTV in the fall of 2008.
Recording was completed on "The Cloudbusting EP" in April of 2009 and features a cover of Kate Bush's 1985 hit "Cloudbusting". Four other original Anthem In songs are included on the EP and will be released on Quiet/Loud Records in July of 2009.
Hold On to Me
Anthem In Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Three thousand miles
To a place that I
Went to live
In a time that we
Can face the dark
In a time that I
British light(?) shines down
A thousand times
Across the bay and the mines
I swam
You lived and loved
In a faraway town
Now we're here for good
So let's live
Hold on to me, baby
Always let me feel
Slip into the water
Fall into the shore
Find diverse in cities(?)
You got me
I will always save you
For holding on
Drive away with me
Through the winding hills
Look across the bay
To the sea
Feel the wind blow
Like times before
Wallow thoughts of wine
With me
Hold on to me, baby
Always let me feel
Slip into the water
Fall into the shore
Find diverse in cities
You got me
I will always save you
For holding on
The lyrics in "Hold on to Me" by Anthem In seem to suggest a desire to escape into a different space where it is possible to overcome challenges and begin anew. The first verse creates the image of traveling to a distant place where the singer once hoped to live. He wants to go back to that time and overcome the darkness that might seem daunting. The next couple of verses suggest that the troubled time that he wants to confront is related to an emotional struggle that he has with a loved one. He acknowledges that he was hurtful, but he is now asking for forgiveness and a new start. He wants them to have the chance to love again, and he hopes that they can forget about the hurt from the past.
The chorus that repeats throughout the song enhances the sense of holding on to each other in this journey of healing. There is a sense of saying "I've got you," reassuring and protective. The phrase "slip into the water, fall onto the shore" seems to symbolize the journey toward a peaceful, safe place, just like a shore where the water meets land. The last verse makes vivid the image of winding hilly roads that invite travelers on a journey to explore, contemplate about life's beautiful and challenging moments, and create new memories together. The lyrics in the song, Hold on to Me, by Anthem In are poetic and can be interpreted as an invitation to start anew and connect with a loved one again.
Line by Line Meaning
Fly away with me
Three thousand miles
To a place that I
Went to live
Let's escape from our current reality and travel to a place where I once found happiness.
In a time that we
Can face the dark
In a time that I
Forgive
Let's journey together during a time of uncertainty and difficulty, where I am willing to forgive past mistakes.
British light(?) shines down
A thousand times
Across the bay and the mines
I swam
The bright sun from across the ocean illuminates my past experiences swimming across the bay and exploring the mining areas.
You lived and loved
In a faraway town
Now we're here for good
So let's live
You once lived and loved in a distant city, but now we have the opportunity to make a home together and embrace life.
Hold on to me, baby
Always let me feel
Slip into the water
Fall into the shore
Find diverse in cities(?)
You got me
I will always save you
For holding on
Hold onto me tightly and let me be your support as we face life's challenges together. Let's find adventure in new places and experiences, and I will always be there to protect you for sticking by my side.
Drive away with me
Through the winding hills
Look across the bay
To the sea
Let's escape on a road trip through the countryside, enjoying the scenic views of winding hills and the vast ocean.
Feel the wind blow
Like times before
Wallow thoughts of wine
With me
Experience the same familiar feelings of freedom as before, reminisce about old times while drinking wine in my company.
Contributed by Jayce C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.