His debut studio album, I Created Disco, was released in June 2007. Its singles "Acceptable in the 80s" and "The Girls" both reached the top 10 in the UK. In 2009, he released his second studio album, Ready for the Weekend, which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and whose lead single, "I'm Not Alone", became his first song to top the UK Singles Chart.
In 2012, Harris rose to international prominence with the release of his third studio album, 18 Months, which topped the UK Albums Chart and became his first album to chart on the US Billboard 200, peaking at number 19. All eight of the album's singles reached the top 10 in the UK, breaking the record for the most top 10 songs from one studio album on the UK Singles Chart with eight entries, surpassing Michael Jackson's record. In 2014, he released his fourth studio album, Motion, which debuted at number two in the UK and number five in the US. In 2017, he released his fifth studio album, Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1, which reached the top two in the UK and the US and became his third consecutive number one album on the US Dance/Electronic Albums chart.
In October 2014, Harris became the first artist to place three songs simultaneously on the top 10 of Billboard's Dance/Electronic Songs chart. He also became the first UK solo artist to reach more than one billion streams on Spotify. Harris has received 18 Brit Award nominationsโwinning British Producer of the Year and British Single of the Year in 2019, as well as five Grammy nominations, including a win for Best Music Video in 2013. In 2013 he also received a Ivor Novello Award, and was named the Top Dance/Electronic Artist at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. He appeared on Debrett's 2017 list of the most influential people in the United Kingdom. He topped Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid DJs for six consecutive years from 2013 to 2018 until being dethroned by The Chainsmokers in 2019.
You Used to Hold Me
Calvin Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That sounds something like me holding you
I've known this can make you understand
Take my spirit from my open hand
You used to hold me
You used to hold me
You used to hold me me me me, yeah
You used to hold me
You used to hold me
You used to hold me me me me, yeah
You used to hold me
You used to hold me
You used to hold me me me me, yeah
You used to hold me
You used to hold me
You used to hold me me me me, yeah
You know better than I do
Knocked down everything I tried to do
That sounds something like me holding you
I've known this can make you understand
Take my spirit from my open hand
You used to hold me
You used to hold me
You used to hold me me me me, yeah
You used to hold me
You used to hold me
You used to hold me me me me, yeah
You used to hold me
You used to hold me
You used to hold me me me me, yeah
You used to hold me
You used to hold me
You used to hold me me me me, yeah
You know better than I do
You used to hold me
You used to hold me
You used to hold me me me me, yeah
You used to hold me
You used to hold me
You used to hold me me me me, yeah
You used to hold me
You used to hold me
You used to hold me me me me, yeah
You used to hold me
You used to hold me
You used to hold me me me me, yeah
The lyrics of Calvin Harris's song You Used to Hold Me describe a relationship in which the singer feels helpless and unable to achieve anything while being with their partner. The verse "knocked down everything I tried to do, that sounds something like me holding you" expresses this sense of entrapment and suggests that the singer's efforts and aspirations are being thwarted by their partner's needs and demands. Despite this, the chorus repeats the line "you used to hold me" several times, indicating that there was a time when the relationship was more tender and fulfilling.
The second verse reinforces this dynamic of power imbalance, with the phrase "you know better than I do" suggesting that the singer is being controlled and guided by their partner. The overall mood of the song is one of regret and nostalgia for a happier past, as expressed by the wistful repetition of the chorus.
One possible interpretation of the song is that it refers to a relationship that has become too dominant or oppressive, stifling the singer's individuality and potential. The repeated phrase "you used to hold me" carries a double meaning: while it can be read as a fond reminiscence of physical affection, it can also be seen as a lament for the loss of autonomy and agency that the singer once enjoyed.
Line by Line Meaning
Knocked down everything I tried to do
Whenever I tried to do something, I always failed.
That sounds something like me holding you
Just like how I couldn't achieve my goals, I wasn't able to hold onto you either.
I've known this can make you understand
I understand that my failures led to our separation.
Take my spirit from my open hand
I am surrendering my soul to you, hoping that you'll be able to make me feel whole again.
You used to hold me
You used to be my source of comfort and safety.
You used to hold me me me me, yeah
I miss the way you used to hold me and how it made me feel secure and loved.
You know better than I do
You have more understanding of what happened between us and how to move on.
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ADAM WILES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@austiniscoolduh
Nothing beats old Calvin Harris songs
@RubenSim
Is the whole wheat filling?
@Notdb1gabe
11 years later and this song is still a banger
@umwhat3860
Yepโ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธโค๏ธโ๐ฅ
@NostalgiCrazy
12 now ๐ฅบ Take me back!
@fayth888
i used to listen to this back in like 2010 and 2011, just cruising with my friends late night. joy riding, being an idiot. good times
@yeanah716
still goes hard
@djdestroyer
Remember when Calvin Harris made dope shit like this?
@Skywalk3R2
this was madd underrated in 2011
@Seannasmum
I agree!