Born in Valdosta, Georgia, and raised in Marietta, Georgia, Royal became a local star at the Bamboo Ranch in Savannah in the 1950s and 1960s. He is best known for the 1965 US Top 10 pop hit "Down in the Boondocks", which, along with the singles "I Knew You When" (Top 20, 1965) and "Hush" (1967), were written and produced by Joe South. Another South composition, "Yo-Yo," just missed the top 40 in Canada and charted poorly in the U.S. when Royal released it in 1967, but a later remake by The Osmonds was a much greater success. His 1969 single, "Cherry Hill Park", peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the 1970s his recording of "Heart's Desire" gained popularity among Northern soul enthusiasts and was regularly played in Northern soul nightclubs.
During the 1980s, Royal had a successful comeback with several Top 10 country hits, including "Tell It Like It Is", "Burned Like a Rocket", and "I'll Pin a Note on Your Pillow".
Royal's career experienced a second major period during the 2000s due to regular airplay on "oldies" radio stations. His music was further exposed to younger generations through a movement known as The Beat Army, an online music forum based on Facebook which is operated by author and music producer Paul Collins. Royal continued to tour regularly, performing concerts at casinos, music festivals and clubs in Canada, the United States, Japan and throughout Europe. His set lists include a mixture of songs representing multiple genres from the 1960s to the present.
Royal played Robert Ally in the indie Western film Billy the Kid (2013), co-starring country singer Cody McCarver.
Royal died in his sleep on October 6, 2015 in Morehead City, North Carolina.
You Really Got a Hold on Me
Billy Joe Royal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seems that I'm always thinking of you
Oh, you treat me badly, I love you madly
You've really got a hold on me
You've really got a hold on me, baby
I don't want you but I need you
Oh, you do me wrong now, my love is strong now
You've really got a hold on me
You've really got a hold on me, baby
I love you and all I want you to do is
Just hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me
Tighter, tighter
I wanna leave you, don't wanna stay here
Don't wanna spend another day here
Oh, I wanna split now, I can't quit now
You've really got a hold on me
You've really got a hold on me, baby
I love you and all I want you to do is
Just hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me
You've really got a hold on me
I said you've really got a hold on me, baby
You've really got a hold on me
Oh, you've really got a hold on me
I said you've really got a hold on me
The lyrics to Billy Joe Royal's song "You Really Got a Hold on Me" seem to describe the emotional roller coaster that the singer is on in their relationship with someone. The singer states that they don't like the person they're involved with, but they love them nonetheless. They admit that the person treats them badly, but their love is so strong that they can't help but stay. The repeated refrain "you've really got a hold on me" emphasizes this point, as the singer feels trapped and unable to break free from their lover's grasp.
The second verse describes how the singer both wants and needs their partner, even though they know they shouldn't. The person does them wrong, but their love is too powerful to ignore. The line "my love is strong now" suggests that the singer is almost addicted to their lover, and can't help but keep coming back for more. The final verse shows the internal struggle the singer is facing, as they desperately want to leave their partner but feel unable to do so. The repeated refrain of "hold me tighter" suggests that the singer is looking for comfort and security in their relationship, even if it means sacrificing their own happiness.
Overall, the song portrays a complicated and emotionally charged relationship, where the singer is torn between their love for their partner and their desire to break free.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't like you but I love you
My feelings for you are complex and contradictory; despite the dislike I feel, I cannot help but love you.
Seems that I'm always thinking of you
You occupy my thoughts constantly, no matter how much I try to distract myself.
Oh, you treat me badly, I love you madly
Despite the mistreatment you inflict upon me, my love for you is all-consuming and intense.
You've really got a hold on me
You have a powerful emotional grip on me that I cannot easily free myself from.
You've really got a hold on me, baby
My emotional attachment to you is so profound that it has become a defining feature of my life.
I don't want you but I need you
While I may not desire you, I am dependent on your presence in my life for my emotional well-being.
Don't want to kiss you but I need to
Despite my lack of desire for physical intimacy with you, I am drawn to you and crave your touch.
Oh, you do me wrong now, my love is strong now
Even when you behave hurtfully towards me, my feelings for you remain powerful and unshakable.
I love you and all I want you to do is
Just hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me
Tighter, tighter
My desire for physical and emotional closeness with you is intense, and I crave nothing more than to be held tightly by you.
I wanna leave you, don't wanna stay here
Don't wanna spend another day here
Oh, I wanna split now, I can't quit now
While I may long to separate myself from you, my love for you is all-consuming and prevents me from doing so.
I said you've really got a hold on me
My emotional attachment to you is so profound that it is difficult to express fully in words.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LINK WRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind