To Have
Deftones Lyrics


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I need to be cleansed
It's time to make amends
For all of the fun
The damage is done
And I feel diseased
I'm down on my knees
And I need forgiveness
Someone to bear witness
To the goodness within
Beneath the sin
Although I may flirt
With all kinds of dirt
To the point of disease

Now I want release
From all this decay
Take it away
And somewhere
There's someone who cares




With a heart of gold
To have and to hold

Overall Meaning

The Deftones' cover of Depeche Mode's "To Have and to Hold" is a complex yet melancholic exploration of guilt and redemption. The lyrics describe a narrator who has indulged in various undesirable activities, now seeking release and forgiveness. The desperate, almost pleading tone of the song is accentuated by the mournful melody and Chino Moreno's emotive vocals. The singer seems to be reflecting on their past and acknowledging their sins and the damage they have done. However, they also express a desire to be redeemed and forgiven, seeking someone who can see the good within them and accept them despite their flaws. The use of religious imagery, such as being down on their knees and seeking cleansance, further highlights the song's themes of sin, guilt, and redemption.


One of the interesting features of this song is its origins. "To Have and to Hold" was originally written and recorded by Depeche Mode for their 1990 album "Violator." The Deftones' cover appears on the "B-Sides and Rarities" album, released in 2005. This album is a compilation of various rare and unreleased tracks from throughout the band's career. It showcases the band's versatility and their ability to create unique and powerful interpretations of other artists' work.


Another notable feature of the song is its arrangement. The Deftones' version of "To Have and to Hold" is a departure from the original, which was a slow, synth-heavy track. The cover features heavy guitar riffs, a prominent bassline, and haunting atmospheric effects. The composition perfectly captures the song's emotional intensity, creating a sense of atmosphere and tension that is both powerful and haunting.


Line by Line Meaning

I need to be cleansed
I need to rid myself of any wrongdoing or impurities in order to feel better


It's time to make amends
I must acknowledge and rectify any harm that I may have caused


For all of the fun
For all of the enjoyment and pleasure that I indulged in


The damage is done
I have caused harm that cannot be undone


And I feel diseased
I feel tainted and unhealthy due to my actions


I'm down on my knees
I am humble and pleading for forgiveness


And I need forgiveness
I need someone to pardon me for the harm that I have caused


Someone to bear witness
Someone to see my remorse and acknowledge my attempts to make amends


To the goodness within
To the positive qualities and morals within me


Beneath the sin
Beneath the bad choices and mistakes that I made


Although I may flirt
Although I may entertain or indulge in negative behaviors


With all kinds of dirt
With various forms of wrongdoing or nefarious activities


To the point of disease
To the point where my actions have caused me physical or emotional harm


Now I want release
I want to be free of the negative feelings and consequences of my actions


From all this decay
From the damage and dark effects of my negative behaviors


Take it away
Remove the negative effects of my actions and help me start anew


And somewhere
I believe that there is someone out there


There's someone who cares
There is someone who will empathize with me and forgive me


With a heart of gold
With an understanding and compassionate nature


To have and to hold
To support and appreciate me in both good times and bad




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Martin Gore

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@emileerosebollwinkel2052

I need to be cleansed
It's time to make amends
For all of the fun
The damage is done
And I feel diseased
I'm down on my knees
And I need forgiveness
Someone to bear witness
To the goodness within
Beneath the sin
Although I may flirt
With all kinds of dirt
To the point of disease

Now I want release
From all this decay
Take it away
And somewhere
There's someone who cares
With a heart of gold
To have and to hold

...



@ciscomars

I need to be cleansed
J'ai besoin d'être lavé

It's time to make amends
Il est temps de faire amnde

For all of the fun
Pour tout le plaisir

The damage is done
Le mal est fait

And I feel diseased
Et je me sens mal

I'm down on my knees
Je suis à genoux

And I need forgiveness
Et j'ai besoin du pardon

Someone to bear witness
Quelqu'un pour témoigner

To the goodness within
De la bonté à l'intérieur

Beneath the sin
Sous le péché

Although I may flirt
Bien que je puisse flirter

With all kinds of dirt
Avec toutes sortes de saletés

To the point of disease
Au point culminant de l'affection

Now I want release
Maintenant je veux être libéré

From all this decay
De toute cette décadence

Take it away
Emmène la loin

And somewhere
Et quelque part

There's someone who cares
Il y a quelqu'un qui se soucie

With a heart of gold
Avec un coeur d'or

To have and to hold
Posséder et Garder



@michaellogan6395

To Have and to Hold


I need to be cleansed
It's time to make amends
For all of the fun
The damage is done
And I feel diseased
I'm down on my knees
And I need forgiveness
Someone to bear witness
To the goodness within
Beneath the sin
Although I may flirt
With all kinds of dirt
To the point of disease

Now I want release
From all this decay
Take it away
And somewhere
There's someone who cares
With a heart of gold
To have and to hold



All comments from YouTube:

@chasethecolors

whenever they do covers, they both do justice to the original and make it their own. In my opinion, this is key to a good cover.

@ghastlylife9836

The have also done covers by The Cure, The Smiths, and very soon : Cause and Effect. Deftones really went up in my book after all of these great covers.

@Defspawn1

100% agree. They are my favorite band hands down. But I also love the way they handle covers. Stuff like Chauffer and Sade's No Ordinary Love are great examples

@brandonmelikian8842

You heard the Deftones version of Chino's other band Crosses song called: This is a Trick? Covers of their own songs are even better lol

@blackspring3207

hell yeah man. they do be killin it.

@PseudoWounds

Why the FUCK is this song not present on their "Covers" album, this is amazing!

@browndbeanz7446

Dude, man.. Fiirst time hearin this & I've been callin myself a fan for years. What's wrong with me. Just when I think Deftones can't get any cooler, I hear something like this.. So sick, love them.

@AmandaWellsBacon

Depeche Mode song. Everything sounds better by deftones though.

@browndbeanz7446

Yeah they did a couple Depeche Mode covers, & did them both justice. Can really hear the influence they have on them.

@JaveDMode

+Amanda Wells Except for Depeche Mode songs. But this is damn good. Damn good!

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