His song Dark and Deep was selected for inclusion on Songs Inspired By Literature, Chapter One, a benefit CD to raise money for adult literacy campaigns. Other artists on that CD include Suzanne Vega, Aimee Mann, Grace Slick and Bruce Springsteen.
David has performed on the main stage of the internationally known Kerrville Folk Festival, and he was featured as the headline act at the 2004 Auckland Folk Festival. While there he was awarded lifetime membership in the Guitar Association of New Zealand, only the third international performer to be given that honor in the history of the organization.
David is the co-founder and director of Proyecto para las Escuelas Guatemaltecas, a non-profit organization that funds projects to improve schools in Guatemala. For more info, check the web site: www.pegpartners.org.
In the last year LaMotte has published a children's book based on his award-winning children's song S.S. Bathtub, a live concert DVD and a retrospective collection of Peace and Justice songs from his previous records, as well as his latest CD, Change, a collaborative project with cellist Stephanie Winters.
Hold On
David LaMotte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like it's just another day
But you seem a little weary
Just want to say that it's OK
If you don't feel like being steady
If you'd rather say what's true
You don't have to have the answers
Sometimes all that you can do, is
Hold on, Hold on
Take the dream in your pocket and lock it up safe
Hold on for one more day
When your eyes don't want to open
When all you feel is fear
When you wish someone would notice
And that you could disappear
In the company of silence
If you need someone to hold
Let your tears fall on my shoulder
Let your story rest untold, and
Hold on, Hold on
Take the dream in your pocket and lock it up safe
Hold on for one more day
You walked through the daylight
And nobody knew
But the light falls to pieces
And you're falling too
Hold on, Hold on
Take the dream in your pocket and lock it up safe
Hold on for one more day
The song "Hold On" by David LaMotte acknowledges the struggles of life and encourages listeners to persevere and hold on, even when life seems unbearable. LaMotte opens with appreciation for someone's smile, but also senses their weariness. He reminds the listener that it is okay to not have everything together, and that sometimes just holding on is enough. In the chorus, LaMotte urges the listener to "hold on" and to "take the dream in your pocket and lock it up safe" and "hold on for one more day." He recognizes that some days require more effort than others and that life can feel overwhelming, leading us to want to give up. However, LaMotte encourages the listener to find faith in the idea that there will be a moment when things start to change for the better.
The second verse of "Hold On" speaks to moments of great despair when it feels like no one can understand what you are going through, and you wish you could disappear. However, LaMotte offers himself as a safe place, a shoulder to cry on, and a listener who will let their story remain untold if that is what they need. In the bridge, LaMotte explains that even when we wear a mask and find the courage to walk through life, there is a chance that the light will fall to pieces, and we will fall too. However, we can still hold on and keep going through life's difficult moments. Ultimately, David LaMotte's song "Hold On" serves as an anthem to those who feel like they are barely holding on.
Line by Line Meaning
I appreciate your smiling
I am grateful that you are smiling even if you are going through a lot.
Like it's just another day
Your smiling is deceiving, as if everything is okay, but I know it's not.
But you seem a little weary
I can see that you are tired, and you don't have to pretend anymore.
Just want to say that it's OK
It's okay not to be okay, and you don't have to pretend to be strong all the time.
If you don't feel like being steady
It's okay to feel unstable sometimes and not know what to do next.
If you'd rather say what's true
If you would rather be honest about your feelings, it's okay to do so.
You don't have to have the answers
You don't need to have all the answers or know what to do next.
Sometimes all that you can do, is
Sometimes, all you can do is hold on and keep going.
Hold on, Hold on
Just hold on and keep going.
Take the dream in your pocket and lock it up safe
Hold onto your dreams and keep them safe, even when things are hard.
Hold on for one more day
Hold on to hope and keep going for another day.
When your eyes don't want to open
When you feel like you can't face the world, and you don't want to open your eyes.
When all you feel is fear
When all you feel is fear, and you don't know what to do next.
When you wish someone would notice
When you feel like no one notices how hard things are for you.
And that you could disappear
When you feel like disappearing or hiding because things seem too hard to handle.
In the company of silence
When you want to be alone and stay in silence to sort things out.
If you need someone to hold
If you need someone to be there for you, to support and comfort you.
Let your tears fall on my shoulder
It's okay to cry and let your emotions out, and I am here to support you through that.
Let your story rest untold, and
If you don't feel ready to share your story, it's okay to keep it to yourself.
You walked through the daylight
You walked through the day as if everything is okay, but I know it's not.
And nobody knew
No one else knows how much you are struggling right now.
But the light falls to pieces
The facade you put on during the day, falls apart in the night when you're alone.
And you're falling too
You feel like you're falling apart too.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: EPHRAIM LEWIS, JON QUARMBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind