While it may be premature to elevate Eric Himan to the Mount Rushmore of pop icons, he's proving that he has the mettle to make the climb.
Himan burst onto the indie music scene at the beginning of this decade, acoustic guitar blazing, soulful baritone wailing. With a voice like Cat Stevens, inked arms that out-sleeve Tommy Lee and a guitar style akin to fellow indie artist Ani DiFranco, he was an young man on a mission.
That mission began in coffee houses around Penn State University, where Himan was a student, and culminated in the 2000 release of his first CD, Eric Himan. The stripped-down, acoustic recording was originally crafted as an audience keepsake, but it became his calling card as the music was shared. And the word was spread.
From the very beginning, Himan broke the mold of the soft-spoken, earnest folk troubadour. His performances were filled with electricity and power, but his lyrics betrayed a vulnerability and sadness that sharply contrasted with his bad boy appearance. The combination proved irresistible to audiences.
Himan slowly began expanding his sphere of influence, touring the region while carrying a full course load at Penn State. As demand for his CD grew, Thumbcrown Records (christened for the crown tattoo on his right thumb) was born.
Extensive touring became a catalyst for extensive writing and experimentation with other musical genres. The folk, rock, blues and even jazz influences of his youth (courtesy of his guitar playing father, who fed him a steady diet of Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Richie Havens and the Beatles) came into play.
The result was I Go On (September 2002), which brought Himan to national attention through magazine coverage and made him a favorite on the NACA circuit. After graduating, Himan hit the road full time, playing colleges, pride events, "anywhere people would listen," he laughs.
Local papers documented his travels, and AAA radio began playing tracks from I Go On. The more Himan toured, the more CDs he sold. The plan was working. So when it came time to record #3, he reassembled his studio team for what would become All For Show.
This indie release sold 1000 copies in its first month and caught the attention of Borders Books, which booked Himan for in-store appearances nationwide. Next came his distinction as a Fender endorsed artist by the legendary guitar maker.
Just recently, Himan was tapped to join industry heavyweights like Christina Aguilera, Melissa Etheridge, Pink and the Dixie Chicks, on "Love Rocks", a 2-CD compilation produced by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. For Himan, it's a harmonic convergence of music, message and audience. And the exposure is sure to generate even greater awareness and interest in his songs.
On all his releases, Himan uses his music to address difficult topics: date rape, the death penalty, family acceptance and, of course, the complexities and pain of relationships: all poignantly told from a first-person perspective. There's no macho swagger here.
Now, with his 2005 release, Dark Horse, Himan has crafted a record that shows his growth as a singer/songwriter, enhanced by studio production that truly reflects the caliber of his music.
The eleven tracks offer the same brand of brutal-yet-poetic honesty that has become his trademark, while Himan continues to explore musical genres, aided by a group of top-notch musicians and engineers. Dark Horse is the most expensive record twentysomething Himan has ever made, but it's a gamble that is sure to pay off.
Because no other artist looks OR sounds like Eric Himan: rough trade on the outside, gentle soul of a poet on the inside ad voice of a new generation all around
holding back the years
Eric Himan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In Eric Himan's song, "Holding Back the Years," the lyrics convey a sense of longing and regret for the past. The singer is holding back tears and is thinking about the fear that has plagued them for so long. The fear seems to be related to their family dynamic, as they feel strangled by the wishes of their father and desire the comfort of their mother's embrace. However, the singer acknowledges that nothing in their life has grown or had a chance to be good, and they have wasted all their tears and years. Despite this, they continue to hold on tightly, hoping for a better future.
One possible interpretation of these lyrics is that the singer is reflecting on their childhood and how their family dynamic has shaped them as a person. The wishes of their father and the absence of their mother's comfort may have contributed to their fear and emotional struggles. However, the singer also recognizes that they have agency in determining their own future, and there is a chance for them to escape from their past and grow beyond it.
Overall, "Holding Back the Years" is a poignant expression of the human experience of grappling with the past and striving for a better future. The lyrics resonate with anyone who has experienced emotional struggles and longs for a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Holding back the years
The singer is reflecting on a period of their life where they did not fully express themselves.
Thinking of the fear I've had so long
The singer is acknowledging that they have been afraid to express themselves for a long time.
When somebody hears
The singer hopes that someone will listen to them.
Listen to the fear that's gone
The artist is asking the listener to understand their previous fear, which no longer exists.
Strangled by the wishes of pater
The artist has felt oppressed by their father's expectations.
Hoping for the arms of mater
The singer has been seeking support from their mother.
Get to me the sooner or later
The singer is recognizing that they need to confront their emotions.
Chance for me to escape from all I've known
Expressing themselves is a chance for the artist to move away from their past experiences.
Cause nothing here has grown
The artist is recognizing that their current situation is stagnant and unfulfilling.
I've wasted all my tears
The artist has spent a lot of emotional energy on holding back their emotions for a long time.
Wasted all those years
The singer feels that they have lost valuable time in their life by not expressing themselves.
And nothing had the chance to be good
The artist believes that their past experiences would have been more positive if they had expressed themselves.
Nothing ever could yeah
The singer believes that their past experiences could never have improved without expressing themselves.
I'll keep holding on
The singer is determined to continue expressing themselves, no matter what.
So tight
The singer is holding onto their emotions tightly, but they are prepared to let them out.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mick Hucknall, Neil Moss
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind