In March 2022, they released their first EP or are you normal?, made up of five introspective, genre-bending tracks -- including the single Hold Me Down, the EP showcases the band's natural flare for writing beautifully melodic, escapist, pop anthems. Describing the process behind the EP, the band said: "We basically didn’t sleep in the run up to this EP; we’d go to the jobs we had that paid the bills, come back to the garage and eat cornflakes, smoke, drink coffee and write songs night after night for months on end. Go to sleep at 4am, up at 6am for work. Repeat. The main thing we wanted with this EP was to just be honest about how we were feeling. Start in a vulnerable place so nothing ever feels too deep."
Later in 2022, they released the single Dance No More, which is a song born of their struggle to compete in the music industry, and a cover of Britney Spears' Toxic.
In March 2023, they released the single Daylight Robbery, a "statement track for the new era". While on tour around Europe with The Band CAMINO, they released the single East End Boys, an ode to their East London roots.
Hold Me Down
Boy Bleach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hit me up then drop the line
Waking up to all your lying on the floor
Gripping onto something I don't wanna know
Hooked on all the hope I had in my coat
Hanging out the back to bail on my own
Leaving all the part time lovers at the door
Tell me how this goes
Counting on your love like I don't know me anymore
Dig myself a hole
Realize the toll
You took on us
Hold me back
You only hold me when you wanna hold me
Hold me down
You only hold me when you wanna hold me
Hold me back
You only want me when there's nobody
Else around
You only hold me when you wanna hold me down
You're the puzzle I can't find
Any piece for peace of mind
Higher than I need to find our common ground
Coughing out the blood from screaming at the clouds
Holding hands with hate I took the high road
Walking into traffic with my eyes closed
Leaving all the part time lovers on the floor
Loving me's a past time you don't wanna know
Tell me how this goes
Counting on your love like I don't owe me anymore
Dig myself a hole
Realized the toll
You took on us
Hold me back
You only hold me when you wanna hold me
Hold me down
You only hold me when you wanna hold me
Hold me back
You only want me when there's nobody
Else around
You only hold me when you wanna hold me down
Hooked on all the hope I had in my coat
Hanging out the back to bail on my own
Leaving all the part time lovers at the door
Loving you's a hard time tell me where to go
Tell me how this goes
Counting on your love like I don't know me anymore
Dig myself a hole
Realize the toll
You took on us
Hold me back
You only hold me when you wanna hold me
Hold me down
You only hold me when you wanna hold me
Hold me back
You only want me when there's nobody
Else around
You only hold me when you wanna hold me down
Tell me how this goes
Counting on your love like I don't know me anymore
Dig myself a hole
Realize the toll
You took on us
Tell me how this goes
Counting on your love like I don't know me anymore
Dig myself a hole
Realize the toll
You took on us
The lyrics to Boy Bleach's song Hold Me Down explore the complexities of a toxic relationship in which one person seeks control over the other. The singer is struggling to understand and cope with the emotions and actions of their partner, who only seems to hold them when it benefits them. The first verse describes the pressure and strain of the relationship, with the singer feeling confused and hurt by their partner's lies. They hold onto hope, but it seems to slip away as they realize the truth of their situation.
The chorus repeats the phrase "hold me" but with different connotations. When their partner says "hold me," it is not out of genuine care or affection but rather to assert power and control over the singer. The singer realizes this and is left feeling trapped and powerless. The second verse continues this theme, with the singer feeling like they can't find peace of mind in the relationship. They describe the relationship as a puzzle that they can't solve, always searching for a missing piece. They also use vivid imagery to describe their frustration and despair, with "coughing out the blood from screaming at the clouds."
Overall, the lyrics suggest a relationship that is deteriorating as one person seeks to hold onto power and control at the expense of the other person's well-being. The singer is left feeling confused, hurt, and trapped, desperately counting on their partner's love while struggling to maintain their own sense of self.
Line by Line Meaning
Under pressure, over time
Feeling the weight of expectations and responsibilities as time goes on
Hit me up then drop the line
Contacting me and then suddenly ignoring me
Waking up to all your lying on the floor
Confronted with the truth about your dishonesty
Gripping onto something I don't wanna know
Holding onto information that will only hurt me
Hooked on all the hope I had in my coat
Addicted to the optimistic expectations I carried with me
Hanging out the back to bail on my own
Leaving without saying goodbye in order to protect myself
Leaving all the part time lovers at the door
Giving up on temporary or unfulfilling relationships
Loving you's a hard time tell me where to go
Trying to navigate the difficulties of loving someone who causes harm
Tell me how this goes
Asking for explanation and clarity
Counting on your love like I don't know me anymore
Relying on your affection despite losing sight of my own identity
Dig myself a hole
Making things worse for myself
Realize the toll
Recognizing the damage caused by the relationship
You took on us
Acknowledging that both parties played a role in the relationship's demise
Hold me back
Keeping me from moving on
You only hold me when you wanna hold me
Showing affection only when it benefits you
Hold me down
Keeping me trapped and unable to escape
You only want me when there's nobody
Expressing affection only when there are no other options
Else around
Referring to other potential partners
You're the puzzle I can't find
Unable to understand or solve the complexities of the relationship
Any piece for peace of mind
Searching for any solution to alleviate the stress and anxiety caused by the relationship
Higher than I need to find our common ground
Straining to maintain the relationship, even if it's unhealthy or unsustainable
Coughing out the blood from screaming at the clouds
Exhausted and in pain from crying out and being unheard
Holding hands with hate I took the high road
Trying to be mature and take the moral high ground despite the negative feelings in the relationship
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jimi Fisher, Louis Fisher, Maxwell Britton, SAKIMA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
waskisad
Se volvió mi canción favorita, que buena canción<3333
Stephen Lee
this song is criminally underrated
Boy Bleach
thank you! spread the word ey ;)
Santtu
Saw you in Helsinki when you opened for Yungblud and you definitely impressed me! Love your music!
Hanesto06
🖤🖤🖤🖤
Kleo Cipher
Heyy i saw u this weekend on yungbluds concert in cologne, you guys where amazing!! Definitely one of my favorite bands now<3 Thank you for playing at his concert 💜💜
Hanesto06
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Hanesto06
Ja man war so gut
Maria
Everyone who was in cologne loved u! Ur songs are stuck in my head since yesterday
Hanesto06
🖤🖤