In 1975, Rabbitt signed on with Elektra Records, who had recently created a country music division. His early pieces were strongly C&W, such as "Two Dollars in the Jukebox." Later, his music began to be influenced by R&B and pop. He scored some of his biggest hits with tunes such as "Drinkin' My Baby Off My Mind" (1976), "You Don't Love Me Anymore" (1978), "I Love a Rainy Night" (1980), "Drivin' My Life Away" (1980), "Step by Step" (1981), and a duet with Crystal Gayle, "You and I" (1982) which broke over into the adult contemporary charts. He was also well-known for writing and recording the theme song for the 1978 Clint Eastwood movie "Every Which Way But Loose."
During the late 1980s, Rabbitt was one of many pop-influenced country stars who lost ground on the charts to more traditional-sounding artists. He recorded very little during the 1990s, in part because of the illness and subsequent death of his young son. After his son died, Rabbitt became active in raising money for organizations that aid sick children. Rabbitt himself died of lung cancer at the age of 56.
During his career, Rabbitt scored 26 #1 hits on the country charts, and had 8 Top 40 pop hits. He was named the Top New Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music in 1977, and he won an American Music Award for Best Pop Male Vocalist in 1981.
Eddie Rabbitt is interred in Calvary Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.
Hold On To Me
Eddie Rabbitt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To bring on a lot of rain
And it only takes some bad word
To bring on a lot of pain
And it wouldn't take much, baby
To have me standing at your door
Cause Iβ²m the one who's always been there
No one else could love you more
And when the rain is falling down on you
Just hold on
When you're lost
As you could ever be
And when the lights go out itβ²s dark
Baby, hold on
Hold on to me
You know the words are a little scary
When you see it up too close
And the ones that say theyβ²re lovely
They end up petting you the most
So when you're hurtinβ² when you reach out
And there's no one there to hold
And your friends have all gone crazy
And left you standing in the cold
Yeah, when the rain is falling down on you
Just hold on
When youβ²re lost
As you could ever be
And when the lights go out it's dark
Baby, hold on
Hold on to me
Hold on to me
When the nightβ²s get lonely
Just give me a call
You got my number
(You got my number)
So when the rain is falling down on you
Just hold on
When you're lost
As you could ever be
And when the lights go out it's dark
Baby, hold on
Hold on to me
And when the rain is falling down on you
Just hold on
When youβ²re lost
As you could ever be
And when the lights go out itβ²s dark
Baby, hold on
Hold on to me
Hold on to me
Hold on to me
Hold on to me
Hold on to me
In Eddie Rabbitt's song "Hold On To Me," the lyrics convey a message of support and reassurance to a loved one who may be going through a difficult time. The song begins by highlighting how a seemingly small incident or negative word can have a significant impact, causing pain and emotional distress. The singer emphasizes their presence and unwavering love, stating that they have always been there for their partner and that nobody else could love them more.
The chorus serves as a comforting reminder to hold on during challenging moments. The rain is used as a metaphor for hardship and difficult times, with the singer urging their loved one to hold on when they feel lost and overwhelmed. The line "when the lights go out it's dark" further emphasizes the feelings of loneliness and despair that can accompany difficult situations. The repeated plea to "hold on to me" is an assurance that the singer is there to provide support, comfort, and a shoulder to lean on.
The second verse reflects on the complexities of relationships and friendships. It suggests that sometimes those who seem kind and loving may not always be there when needed the most, while others may surprise by extending their love and support during tough times. The lyrics emphasize the importance of reaching out for help, even when it feels like there's no one there. The message ultimately reinforces the idea that the singer is a steadfast presence, willing to offer support and companionship to their loved one, even when others may have turned away.
Line by Line Meaning
It donβ²t take a lot of thunder
It doesn't require a significant event or action
To bring on a lot of rain
To cause a lot of difficulties or challenges
And it only takes some bad word
And it only takes a negative comment or criticism
To bring on a lot of pain
To cause a great deal of emotional distress or suffering
And it wouldn't take much, baby
And it wouldn't require many efforts
To have me standing at your door
To make me come to you and be there for you
Cause Iβ²m the one who's always been there
Because I am the one who has constantly been by your side
No one else could love you more
No one else could love you with a greater intensity or depth
And when the rain is falling down on you
And when you're facing difficulties or hardships
Just hold on
Just stay strong and keep going
When you're lost
When you feel confused or directionless
As you could ever be
To the greatest extent possible
And when the lights go out it's dark
And when everything seems bleak and hopeless
Baby, hold on
Darling, keep hanging on
Hold on to me
Keep holding onto me for support and comfort
You know the words are a little scary
You understand that words can be intimidating or frightening
When you see it up too close
When you experience it firsthand
And the ones that say theyβ²re lovely
And the ones who claim to be kind or affectionate
They end up petting you the most
They end up hurting you the most
So when you're hurtinβ² when you reach out
So when you're in pain and you try to seek help or support
And there's no one there to hold
And there's no one available to give you comfort or solace
And your friends have all gone crazy
And your friends have all become irrational or unhelpful
And left you standing in the cold
And abandoned you when you needed them the most
Just give me a call
Just reach out to me and seek my support
You got my number
You have my contact information
Hold on to me
Keep holding onto me for support and comfort
Hold on to me
Keep holding onto me for support and comfort
Hold on to me
Keep holding onto me for support and comfort
Hold on to me
Keep holding onto me for support and comfort
Writer(s): Reed Nielsen, Eddie Rabbitt
Contributed by Blake J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Joseph Amari
on Gotta Have You
These are the correct lyrics for Gotta Have You Eddie Rabbitt
Standing at the window
Waiting for the light
Staring down the barrel
Of a rainy night
Mister Walker, help me kill the pain
'Cause red is his color
And John is his name
Help me kill the pain
I gotta have you
Nothing's ever gonna be right
If I don't have you
Another string of these lonely nights
Ain't never gonna do
When I let you get away from me
I was a fool in the first degree
And I gotta have you
I used to listen to your heartbeat every night
It was such a good love, and it felt so right
And I still don't know what made me stray
But I took you for granted, and I gave you away
I just gave you away
I gotta have you
Nothing's ever gonna be right
If I don't have you
Another string of these lonely nights
Ain't never gonna do
When I let you get away from me
I was a fool in the first degree
And I gotta have you, you
I feel like I'm living on borrowed time
I've got a damn good reason for walking the line
I keep praying for the ringing of the telephone
I'm gonna hope these tears will bring you home
Won't you please come home, yeah
'Cause I gotta have you
Nothing's ever gonna be right
If I don't have you
Another string of these lonely nights
Ain't never gonna do
When I let you get away from me
I was a fool in the first degree
And I gotta have you
Nothing's ever gonna be right
If I don't have you
Another string of these lonely nights
Ain't never gonna do
When I let you get away from me
I was a fool in the first degree
And I gotta have you
Nothing's ever gonna be right
If I don't have you
Another string of these lonely nights
Ain't never gonna do