Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian alt-country band formed by three siblings fro… Read Full Bio ↴Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian alt-country band formed by three siblings from the Timmins entertainment family (Margo Timmins, vocals; Michael Timmins, songwriter & guitars; Peter Timmins, drums) plus Alan Anton on bass. The group formed in Toronto in 1986. The band's name was simply a random choice as they approached their first ever gig, but it has come to perfectly represent their sound. (Some sources may credit Townes Van Zandt's song "Cowboy Junkies Lament" as the source of the band's name, but that song was written especially for Cowboy Junkies several years after they coined the name.)

The Trinity Session is perhaps their best known record, recorded live in a single day on a single microphone in a church in Toronto. This album also included a unique cover version of Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane". Reed reportedly liked the Junkies' version of the song better than his own, and began performing their version in concert.

None of the band's subsequent albums have been hits outside of Canada, although the band has maintained a dedicated following and have continued to have chart hits in their native country. Following their 1998 album Miles from Our Home, Cowboy Junkies were dropped from their major label contract. They have continued to release albums on their own independent label, Latent Records.

Hold On To Me
Cowboy Junkies Lyrics

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If you offered me a shade of blue
Would I return it saying that it was too
Dark or light?
Or would I see it for the precious thing
That it might one day be?
Hold on to me

If you offered me a point of view

Would I dismiss it saying that it was too
Black and white?
Or would I see it as the special thing
That it would no doubt be?
Hold on to me

I'll hold on to this gift we share
It is as slippery as it is rare
I'll hold on to that feeling
Of waking and finding you there
I'll hold on to you and you hold on to me

If I asked you for a simple thing

Would you do it without too much thinking or fuss?
Would you see it for the precious thing
That it would surely be?
Hold on to me

Hold on to me
Hold on to me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Cowboy Junkies' song, Hold On To Me, speaks about the various shades of love and relationships. The opening lines of the song, "If you offered me a shade of blue, would I return it saying that it was too dark or light? Or would I see it for the precious thing that it might one day be?", is a reference to how we often trivialize things in our relationships. We can easily dismiss a gesture or a gift from our loved ones without realizing its worth. The lines that follow, "Hold on to me", emphasize the importance of holding on to those we love and not taking them for granted.

The second verse talks about how we sometimes disregard someone's opinion just because it doesn't align with our views. The lines "Or would I see it as the special thing that it would no doubt be? Hold on to me" suggests that we should value and appreciate different perspectives and that it can add meaning and depth to a relationship. The chorus, "I'll hold on to this gift we share, it is as slippery as it is rare," highlights the fragility and rarity of love, and how we should cherish it while we have it.

Overall, the song's message is about the importance of valuing and holding onto love and relationships, and not taking them for granted or dismissing them too quickly. It encourages us to appreciate the little things and to embrace different perspectives.

Line by Line Meaning

If you offered me a shade of blue
If you presented me with an option, would I refuse it because it appeared to be too bright or too subdued?

Would I return it saying that it was too Dark or light?
Would I return the blue shade by expressing that it wasn't the perfect shade of blue?

Or would I see it for the precious thing That it might one day be?
Or would I look beyond its present state and cherish it for what it could potentially become?

If you offered me a point of view
If you gave me your perspective, would I dismiss it outright?

Would I dismiss it saying that it was too Black and white?
Would I disregard your opinions and ideas because I thought they were too simplistic and rigid?

Or would I see it as the special thing That it would no doubt be?
Or would I appreciate it for the unique value and insight it could provide?

I'll hold on to this gift we share
I will treasure and keep safe the special bond and connection we have.

It is as slippery as it is rare
Our connection is fleeting and precarious, but incredibly valuable and hard to find.

I'll hold on to that feeling Of waking and finding you there
I will cherish the feeling of waking up and seeing you by my side everyday.

I'll hold on to you and you hold on to me
We will both cling to each other and never let go.

If I asked you for a simple thing
If I asked you for something uncomplicated and straightforward...

Would you do it without too much thinking or fuss?
Would you be willing to do it without making a big deal about it or overthinking it?

Would you see it for the precious thing That it would surely be?
Would you recognize its importance and sacredness?

Hold on to me Hold on to me Hold on to me
We will both hold on tight to each other!

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MARCUS HUMMON, CHRIS BROWN, LAURA LICATA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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