Chaquico began playing the guitar as a young boy and by the age of 14 was playing professionally in nightclubs. Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane saw him play as a 16-year-old, and invited Chaquico to join him for a series of recording sessions and concerts. During this period members of the Airplane, the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Crosby, Stills and Nash often appeared together in concerts and recordings, and Chaquico played alongside a number of legendary musicians including Jerry Garcia, David Crosby, David Freiberg and Carlos Santana. His first recording was with Kantner and Grace Slick in 1971 on their Sunfighter duo album.
After informally joining the newly-formed Jefferson Starship he expected to go back to school after one tour. Instead, Slick and Kantner approached him in 1972 and asked if he wanted to join the band permanently. He jumped at the chance.
Chaquico remained with the band when Kantner left and the band morphed into Starship. Many people remember his guitar riffs from "We Built This City", as well as his flowing long brown hair in the accompanying video. He co-wrote one of Starship's most memorable songs, "Find Your Way Back" from 1981's under-rated "Modern Times" LP. A smooth jazz version of this same tune also appears on Chaquico's 1994 solo CD "Acoustic Planet".
When Starship broke up, Chaquico formed Big Bad Wolf, a hard rock band continuing in the same vein as Starship. The group recorded one album, entitled 'Big Bad wolf' before disbanding. He then forged a new career as a Smooth Jazz/New Age guitarist. He has collaborated with Ozzie Ahlers for his ten solo albums since 1993. The most famous of all is his second album, 1994's Acoustic Planet. This album garnered Chaquico a Grammy Nomination for Best New Age album. Since then Chaquico has cemented his standing as one of the top-selling Smooth Jazz/New Age artists.
In addition to his work with the various incarnations of Jefferson Starship, he also has worked regularly for the last 25 years as a studio musician with a wide range of artists, including Commander Cody, Mickey Thomas and Tom Scott.
holding back the years
Craig Chaquico Lyrics
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Thinking of the fear I've had for so long.
When somebody hears,
Listen to the fear that's gone.
Strangled by the wishes of pater,
Hoping for the arm of mater,
Get to me sooner or later,
I'll keep holding on,
I'll keep holding on,
I'll keep holding on,
I'll keep holding on.
Chance for me to escape from all I know.
Holding back the tears.
There's nothing here has grown.
I've wasted all my tears,
Wasted all those years.
Nothing had the chance to be good,
Nothing ever could, yeah.
I'll keep holding on,
I'll keep holding on,
I'll keep holding on,
I'll keep holding on
So tight.
The lyrics to Craig Chaquico's song Holding Back The Years describe the internal struggle of an individual who has been plagued by fear for a long time and is finally experiencing a breakthrough. The first line of the song "Holding back the years" is a metaphor that suggests the person has been suppressing their emotions for a long time. The line "Thinking of the fear I've had for so long" indicates that the person has been haunted by their fears for a significant period of time.
The next two lines of the song suggest that the person needs someone to listen to their story and understand the pain they have gone through. The line "When somebody hears, listen to the fear that's gone" suggests that the person needs a compassionate ear to help them release their inner fears. The following lines of the song "Strangled by the wishes of pater, hoping for the arm of mater, get to me sooner or later" suggest that the person has been deeply affected by the wishes of their father and longs to feel the love and support of their mother.
The chorus of the song "I'll keep holding on, I'll keep holding on, I'll keep holding on, I'll keep holding on" suggests that the person is determined to hold on and overcome their fears. The lines "Chance for me to escape from all I know, holding back the tears, there's nothing here has grown" suggest that the person needs to escape from their current situation to find hope and growth. The last lines of the song "I've wasted all my tears, wasted all those years, nothing had the chance to be good, nothing ever could, yeah, I'll keep holding on, I'll keep holding on, I'll keep holding on, I'll keep holding on so tight" suggest that the person has wasted a lot of time in fear and is determined to hold on tightly to their newfound strength.
Line by Line Meaning
Holding back the years,
I’ve been holding onto my past and avoiding change.
Thinking of the fear I’ve had for so long.
I am constantly worried and anxious about what lies ahead.
When somebody hears, listen to the fear that's gone.
I want someone to understand the struggles I've gone through.
Strangled by the wishes of pater, hoping for the arm of mater, get to me sooner or later, nothing ever could, yeah.
I am struggling between fulfilling my father's wishes and seeking comfort from my mother, but deep down I know neither can help me find true happiness.
I’ll keep holding on, I’ll keep holding on, I’ll keep holding on, I’ll keep holding on.
I feel stuck and helpless, but I will continue to hold onto my past until I can find a way to move forward.
Chance for me to escape from all I know.
I know I need to break free from my current situation and environment to find a better future.
Holding back the tears, there’s nothing here that’s grown.
I am suppressing my emotions to avoid facing the harsh reality that my life isn't progressing.
I’ve wasted all my tears, wasted all those years.
I have dwelled on my past for too long and it has led me to miss out on opportunities to grow and move forward.
Nothing had the chance to be good, nothing ever could, yeah.
Despite all the efforts, everything in my life seems to be going wrong and I feel hopeless.
I’ll keep holding on, I’ll keep holding on, I’ll keep holding on, I’ll keep holding on so tight.
I know I need to let go, but I am too scared to take the risk and I feel trapped in my own fears and doubts.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mick Hucknall, Neil Moss
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind