To Have and to Hold
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 song "To Have and To Hold" by Deftones is all about the need for cleansing and the realization of one's sins. The first verse begins with the singer acknowledging that it is time for him to make amends for all the fun he has had, and the damage that it has caused. The lines "And I feel diseased / I'm down on my knees / And I need forgiveness" show that the singer is not feeling well, both physically and emotionally, and is in need of relief. He is asking for someone to bear witness to his goodness beneath the sin, as he has been flirting with all kinds of dirt which has made him feel diseased.


The second verse talks about the desire to be released from all the decay and for someone to care for him with a heart of gold. The lines "Take it away / And somewhere / There's someone who cares / With a heart of gold / To have and to hold" clearly illustrate the desire for care and affection from someone, which is something that the singer has been lacking.


Overall, the song is a deep and introspective look at the need for self-redemption. It acknowledges the negative consequences of one's actions, but also highlights the need for love and caring from others to truly change one's ways.


Line by Line Meaning

I need to be cleansed
I feel dirty and impure and need to rid myself of this feeling.


It's time to make amends
I need to rectify the mistakes I've made and make things right.


For all of the fun
For all the good times and pleasures I indulged in.


The damage is done
The consequences of my actions have already been set in motion.


And I feel diseased
I feel sick both physically and mentally because of my past actions.


I'm down on my knees
I'm humble and ready to ask for forgiveness.


And I need forgiveness
I am seeking compassion and absolution for my sins.


Someone to bear witness
I need someone to acknowledge my feelings and help me through the process.


To the goodness within
I believe that there is still good inside me despite my actions.


Beneath the sin
I acknowledge that my mistakes are what's on the surface and that there is more to me than that.


Although I may flirt
Even though I may be drawn to danger and unhealthy activities.


With all kinds of dirt
I am attracted to activities that society perceives as immoral, bad, or wrong.


To the point of disease
I take it too far and my behavior has caused harm to my physical and mental health.


Now I want release
I desire to be free from the burdens of my past actions.


From all this decay
I want to separate myself from the toxic and damaging activities and thoughts that I have been engaging with.


Take it away
I want to be rid of these negative feelings and experiences.


And somewhere
There must be a place out there.


There's someone who cares
There is someone out there who is willing to listen and help me through this process.


With a heart of gold
This person is compassionate and genuine in their willingness to assist me.


To have and to hold
I hope to find someone who will be there for me through thick and thin, to listen and support me.




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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