Months later, Styles signed a solo deal with Columbia Records. Reflecting the influence of childhood favorites like Queen, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, Freddy Mercury, and The Beatles, Styles' solo material took a more serious and rock-based approach, while still delivering the pop sound his faithful 1D fans desired. With the help of Grammy-winning producer Jeff Bhasker (who had worked with Kanye West and Bruno Mars), Styles put together a small band and, after rehearsing the songs, headed to Jamaica for two months to record an album. "Sign of the Times", a plaintive ballad, was released as its first single in April 2017. The self-titled full-length album Harry Styles followed in May and debuted at the top of the Billboard 200. After two world tours, Harry set to write his sophomore album Fine Line, releasing the hit songs "Lights Up", "Watermelon Sugar" and "Adore You" as the singles.
Fine Line was released on 13 December 2019 by Columbia and Erskine Records. On March 14, 2021, Harry received the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance for "Watermelon Sugar" at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. He was also nominated for Best Music Video with "Adore You" and for Best Pop Vocal Album for his "Fine Line" album. In May of the same year, Styles also won the Brit Award for British Single for "Watermelon Sugar".
On May 20, 2022, Styles released his third studio album, titled Harry’s House. Its promotional single "As It Was" went on to break world records and earn Styles the title (male) for the most-streamed track on Spotify in 24 hours.
Don't Let Me Go
Harry Styles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hold on scared and harder to breath
All of a sudden these lights are blinding me
I never noticed how bright they would be
I saw in the corner there is a photograph
No doubt in my mind it's a picture of you
It lies there alone on it's bed of broken glassThis bed was never made for two
I'll keep my eyes wide open
I'll keep my arms wide open
Don't let me
Don't let me
Don't let me go
'Cause I'm tired of being alone
Don't let me
Don't let me go
'Cause I'm tired of feeling alone
I promise one day I'll bring you back a star
I caught one and it burned a hole in my hand oh
Seems like these days I watch you from afar
Just trying to make you understand
I'll keep my eyes wide open yeah
Don't let me
Don't let me
Don't let me go
'Cause I'm tired of feeling alone
Don't let me
Don't let me go
Don't let me
Don't let me
Don't let me go
'Cause I'm tired of feeling alone
Don't let me
Don't let me
Don't let me go
'Cause I'm tired of feeling alone
Don't let me
Don't let me go
'Cause I'm tired of sleeping alone
The lyrics to Harry Styles's song "Don't Let Me Go" describe a moment of realization and desperation. The singer encounters someone they care about deeply, and they are overcome with emotion. The lights "blinding" them suggest the intensity of the moment, as if everything else is being drowned out by the present experience. The photograph lying alone on a bed of broken glass is a poignant image, suggesting both the fragility of the past and the pain of the present. The singer seems to be hoping that this encounter might represent a chance to reclaim what was lost, to bridge the distance between them and the person they care for.
The lyrics are full of longing and a desire to be close to the other person. The singer seems tired of being alone, tired of feeling their distance from the one they love. They offer promises of bringing back a "star" and keeping their "eyes wide open", suggesting their commitment to doing what it takes to create a meaningful connection. But despite their best efforts, they are ultimately at the mercy of the other person's choices - hence the plea, "Don't let me go." It seems the singer is afraid of losing this chance to reconnect, to find something that has been missing in their life.
Overall, the song's lyrics are deeply emotive and capture a moment of intense feeling. The references to loneliness, distance, and the fragility of the past make the song relatable to anyone who has experienced heartbreak or the difficulty of trying to rebuild a relationship. The message of hopefulness and determination to keep trying despite the odds is a powerful one.
Line by Line Meaning
Now you were standing there right in front of me
The singer sees the person he is addressing, standing in front of him.
I hold on scared and harder to breath
The singer is scared and nervous in the presence of the person he is addressing.
All of a sudden these lights are blinding me
The singer is overwhelmed by the bright lights, which represent the attention he is receiving from the person he is addressing.
I never noticed how bright they would be
The singer did not anticipate the intensity of the attention he is receiving.
I saw in the corner there is a photograph
The singer notices a photograph of the person he is addressing in the corner of the room.
No doubt in my mind it's a picture of you
The singer is certain that the photograph is of the person he is addressing.
It lies there alone on it's bed of broken glass
The photograph is on top of broken glass, which represents the fragility of the relationship between the singer and the person he is addressing.
This bed was never made for two
The singer suggests that the relationship was doomed from the start.
I'll keep my eyes wide open
The singer wants to remain vigilant and aware of the situation with the person he is addressing.
I'll keep my arms wide open
The singer is open and receptive to the person he is addressing.
Don't let me
The singer is pleading with the person he is addressing to not let him go.
Cause I'm tired of being alone
The singer is tired of being alone and wants to be with the person he is addressing.
I promise one day I'll bring you back a star
The singer promises to do something extraordinary for the person he is addressing.
I caught one and it burned a hole in my hand oh
The singer caught a star, but it harmed him in the process.
Seems like these days I watch you from afar
The singer feels distant from the person he is addressing.
Just trying to make you understand
The singer is trying to communicate his feelings to the person he is addressing.
Don't let me go
The singer repeats his plea for the person he is addressing to not let him go.
Cause I'm tired of feeling alone
The singer reiterates that he is lonely and wants to be with the person he is addressing.
Don't let me go
The singer repeats his plea again.
Cause I'm tired of feeling alone
The singer reiterates his loneliness again.
Don't let me go
The singer repeats his plea for the third time.
Cause I'm tired of sleeping alone
The singer is tired of being physically alone at night.
Contributed by Lucy S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ulktopia
The ones who know this song are old Directioners. Here I am, among those.
And I am here today to express my grief for Payno.
When this song was released, we were crying for boys to leave 1D and do solo. We were also crying for this song's story which was Harry's passing away friend. After him he wrote this song, at least we knew this way.
When I looked at that time, I would never know crying in this song for Liam. I come here today to cherish and appreciate Liam, and I miss him deeply. I am here as adult and teenage Directioner, who is 11 and 25. Thank you for being one of my main parts in my life.
I cherish you, I feel grateful to you for saving my teenage years and also I love you from the ground to the sky and the infinity.
@royalexanderluke7632
🥲
@shakira0597
No definitely if someone knows this now hidden jam it’s cause they have been here since the start ✨😮💨
@kimmbykurtis3860
here with you girlie, 3am going down memory lane. We'll love you forever Liam ❤️
@ysmintt
☹
@MrWerunka26
I'm almost 23 and it's only now that I feel like my childhood is over. I hope Liam is well. That he knows he was loved.
Fly high our hero❤.
-Directioner from the start
@makaylarenes9013
It’s 2020 and I’m so proud of where he’s at in life 🥺
@maleschiano2508
😭💕
@suzethvasquez8878
He's made it so far and he's doing amazing 😭❤🥺🤧
@iLovehamzah
Me too😭😭😭❤️