Lyrically, she verifies that she loves her partner physically and emotionally, but also states her intention to figure out where his loyalties lie, even if it means losing her sanity. The lighthearted and upbeat instrumental juxtaposes the actual content of the song, which deals with rage and resentment.
The song received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 59th ceremony (2017).
Hold Up
Beyoncé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slow down, they don't love you like I love you
Back up, they don't love you like I love you
Step down, they don't love you like I love you
Can't you see there's no other man above you?
What a wicked way to treat the girl that loves you
Hold up, they don't love you like I love you
Oh, down, they don't love you like I love you
Something don't feel right
Because it ain't right
Especially comin' up after midnight
I smell your secret, and I'm not too perfect
To ever feel this worthless
How did it come down to this?
Scrollin' through your call list
I don't wanna lose my pride, but I'ma fuck me up a bitch
Know that I kept it sexy, and know I kept it fun
There's something that I'm missing, maybe my head for one
What's worse, lookin' jealous or crazy?
Jealous or crazy?
Or like being walked all over lately, walked all over lately
I'd rather be crazy
Hold up, they don't love you like I love you
Slow down, they don't love you like I love you
Back up, they don't love you like I love you
Step down, they don't love you like I love you
Can't you see there's no other man above you?
What a wicked way to treat the girl that loves you
Hold up, they don't love you like I love you
Slow down they don't love you like I love you
Let's imagine for a moment that you never made a name for yourself
Or mastered wealth, they had you labeled as a king
Never made it out the cage, still out there movin' in them streets
Never had the baddest woman in the game up in your sheets
Would they be down to ride?
No, they used to hide from you, lie to you
But y'all know we were made for each other
So I find you and hold you down
Me sing se
Hold up, they don't love you like I love you
Slow down, they don't love you like I love you
Back up, they don't love you like I love you
Step down, they don't love you like I love you
Can't you see there's no other man above you?
What a wicked way to treat the girl that loves you
Hold up, they don't love you like I love you
Slow down they don't love you like I love you
Hey, this such a shame
You let this good love go to waste
I always keep the top tier, 5 star
Backseat lovin' in the car
Like make that wood, like make that wood
Holly like a boulevard
What's worse, lookin' jealous or crazy?
Jealous and crazy?
Or like being walked all over lately, walked all over lately
I'd rather be crazy
Hold up, they don't love you like I love you
Slow down, they don't love you like I love you
Back up, they don't love you like I love you
Step down, they don't love you like I love you
Can't you see there's no other man above you?
What a wicked way to treat the girl that loves you
Hold up, they don't love you like I love you
Oh, down, they don't love you like I love you
I hop up out the bed and get my swag on
I look in the mirror, say, "what's up?"
What's up? What's up? What's up?
I hop up out the bed and get my swag on
I look in the mirror, say, "what's up?"
What's up? What's up? What's up?
Beyoncé's song "Hold Up" from her visual album "Lemonade" is a song about a jealous lover who is being cheated on but is still willing to fight for the relationship. The first lines of the song, "Hold up, they don't love you like I love you, Slow down, they don't love you like I love you," imply that the singer is trying to convince their lover that no one loves them like they do, and they should appreciate the love and loyalty they have. The song is a combination of different emotions, from anger to regret, mixed with a soft melody that makes it easy to sway to. With each chorus, Beyoncé strengthens her case and warns her lover that they need to appreciate her love because no one else will love them like she loves them.
Moving on to the second stanza, Beyoncé shows her vulnerability and admits that something in her relationship doesn't feel right. She mentions that she smells a secret and that she feels worthless because of it, scrolling through her lover's call list. She confesses that she isn't too proud to do some damage to the person he cheated on her with. She laments that she has done everything to keep their love in check and adventurous, but she feels like something is missing, perhaps the same love and respect she gives to her partner. The bridge asks whether it's worse to be jealous or crazy or to let someone walk all over them. In the end, Beyoncé prefers to be crazy than to be the latter, an indication that she would go on a rampage if the relationship were to go south.
Overall, "Hold Up" is a song that shows the audience that even famous people go through the same struggles in relationships as average people, and the emotions they go through are just as valid as those of ordinary folks.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold up, they don't love you like I love you
I don't think they love you like I do
Slow down, they don't love you like I love you
Calm down, I know they don't love you like I do
Back up, they don't love you like I love you
Step back, I'm the only one who loves you this way
Step down, they don't love you like I love you
Take a step back, no one loves you as much as I do
Can't you see there's no other man above you?
Don't you see that you're the best and no one compares to you?
What a wicked way to treat the girl that loves you
It's not right to treat someone who loves you this way
Oh, down, they don't love you like I love you
Oh, they just don't love you like I do
Something don't feel right
Something feels off
Because it ain't right
Because it's not right
Especially comin' up after midnight
Especially happening after midnight
I smell your secret, and I'm not too perfect
I know your secret, and I'm not perfect myself
To ever feel this worthless
To feel completely worthless
How did it come down to this?
How did this happen?
Scrollin' through your call list
Looking through your call log
I don't wanna lose my pride, but I'ma fuck me up a bitch
I don't want to lose my dignity, but I'm going to hurt someone
Know that I kept it sexy, and know I kept it fun
I know I was attractive and fun
There's something that I'm missing, maybe my head for one
I feel like I'm missing something, maybe it's just me
What's worse, lookin' jealous or crazy?
What's worse, seeming jealous or insane?
Jealous or crazy?
Envious or insane?
Or like being walked all over lately, walked all over lately
Or like being taken advantage of, recently
I'd rather be crazy
I'd rather be insane
Let's imagine for a moment that you never made a name for yourself
Let's pretend you never became well-known
Or mastered wealth, they had you labeled as a king
Or became wealthy enough to be considered royalty
Never made it out the cage, still out there movin' in them streets
Never escaped the confinement, still in the streets
Never had the baddest woman in the game up in your sheets
Never had the best woman in the game in your bed
Would they be down to ride?
Would they be loyal and ride for you?
No, they used to hide from you, lie to you
No, they used to hide from you and deceive you
But y'all know we were made for each other
But we know we belong together
So I find you and hold you down
So I found you and support you
Me sing se
I sing for you
Hey, this such a shame
Hey, this is a pity
You let this good love go to waste
You're wasting this good love
I always keep the top tier, 5 star
I always have the best, top tier love
Backseat lovin' in the car
Intimate moments in the car
Like make that wood, like make that wood
Like make that erection, like make that erection
Holly like a boulevard
So loud like a boulevard
I hop up out the bed and get my swag on
I get up, energized and confident
I look in the mirror, say, "what's up?"
I look in the mirror and greet myself
What's up? What's up? What's up?
Hi, how are you? Hi, how are you? Hi, how are you?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Antonio Randolph, Beyonce Gisselle Knowles, Brian Chase, Deandre Cortez Way, Doc Pomus, Emile Haynie, Ezra Koenig, Joshua Michael Tillman, Karen Lee Orzolek, Kelvin McConnell, Mort Shuman, Nicholas Joseph Zinner, Sean Ryan Rhoden, Thomas Wesley Pentz, Uzo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@emd4390
I tried to change, closed my mouth more tried to be softer, prettier, less awake.
Fasted for 60 days, wore white
abstained from mirrors, abstained from sex. Slowly did not speak another word
In that time my hair grew past my ankles
I slept on a mat on the floor
I swallowed a sword
I levitated
Into the basement confessed my sins and was baptized in a river.
Got on my knees and said Amen
And said I mean I whipped my own back and asked for dominion at your feet
I threw myself into a volcano I drank the blood and drank the wine I sat alone and begged and bent at the waist for God
I crossed myself and thought I saw the Devil.
I grew thickened skin on my feet, I bathed in bleach, and plugged my menses with pages from the holy book.
But still inside me coiled deep was the need to know
"Are you cheating on me?"
Like this so others can see
@Nathan-yf2mj
I tried to change
Closed my mouth more
Tried to be soft, prettier
Less... awake
Fasted for 60 days
Wore white
Abstained from mirrors
Abstained from sex
Slowly did not speak another word
And that time my hair I grew past my ankles
I slept on a mat on the floor
I swallowed a sword
I levitated
Into the basement
Confessed my sins
And was baptized in a river
Got on my knees and said, "Amen"
And said, "I mean"
I whipped my own back
And asked for dominion at your feet
I threw myself into a volcano
I drank the blood and drank the wine
I sat alone and begged and bent at the waist for God
I crossed myself in thought
I saw the devil
I grew thickened skin on my feet
I bathed in bleach
And plugged my menses with the pages from the holy book
But still inside me coiled deep was the need to know
Are you cheating?
Are you cheating on me?
@day6atemywallet78
I love how she realises her worth and knows that it’s not her fault that he cheated, she was there, she did everything, still he did it
@jessika3584
And he is still doing it 🤐
@unicornbitch3653
@@jessika3584 yeah, he is sooo being a bitch rn.
@__yeri3719
this.
@efsunkartal1774
So true 👏👏👏
@Nominaze
@@jessika3584 right 💀
@justmelol9544
Beyonce: I tried to be pretier
Me:sorry?
@ShonnysLab1995
just me lol right I’m like excuse me how, not even to hype her up. But she’s an extraordinary looking BLACK WOMAN!!
@greenhornet8262
Angel Johnson sure jan
@emanueladiprima762
Ahhhahahaha me toooo!!!