Their first hit, "I'm Into Something Good", was produced by Mickie Most, reaching #1 in the UK (1963) and #13 in the US (1964). Other hits followed such as "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter" (1965) and "I'm Henry VIII, I Am". The last was said at the time to be "the fastest-selling song in history". The band played on these singles but many of their subsequent singles employed session musicians, including Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, with contributions from the band. The band's singles were written by top songwriters of the day. Regardless of how the records were made, the guitar player, Lek Leckenby, was a gifted guitarist. Indeed, all the other members were capable players and Peter Noone was a charismatic front man. The band was nominated for two Grammy awards in 1965, both for "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter". Noone and the band deliberately emphasized their Manchester accents on the record, which was never intended to be a single.
Born in Manchester, England, Noone was a child TV star in Coronation Street and in other TV work. He was still only 15 when he achieved international fame as teenage heart-throb as leader of the Hermits.
Herman's Hermits, whilst hugely successful in the mid-1960s, never topped the British charts again after their first hit, "I'm Into Something Good". However, they had two US No. 1's with "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter" and "I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am". The band disliked both songs, and never released them as singles in Britain. They appeared in several movies, including When The Boys Meet The Girls (1965) and Hold On! (1966). They also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dean Martin Show and The Jackie Gleason Show.
They enjoyed consistent success in Britain throughout the rest of the decade but they were even more popular in America for a while. Their hits continued until 1967's "No Milk Today". Soon, however, the Monkees had replaced Herman's Hermits as the simple pop rock act, and the Hermits' career declined. "There's a Kind of Hush (All Over the World)" engendered a revival, but the Hermits never again cracked the top 10 in the U.S. This song was, however, successfully covered by The Carpenters in their album "A Kind of Hush", released in 1976. The band continued releasing records throughout the 1970s with little success. In the end, Herman's Hermits were a band which were both blessed and cursed by the 'niche' in which originally they found success.
(Adapted from Wikipedia)
Hold On
Herman's Hermits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've got a girl who really loves you (you've got a girl who really cares)
She'll do anything you ask her to
Yet you treat her wrong oh you just string her along
Brother, if I were in your shoes
I would hold on, hold on, hold on tight
I would hold on, hold on, with all my might
A love like hers is very hard to find
She does her best to make you happy (she always does her very best)
You do your best to make her blue
Buddy, you've got it made but you'd rather go and play
I know one thing for sure, if I were you
I would hold on, hold on, hold on tight
And make the whole world know she's mine
I would hold on, hold on, with all my might
A love like hers is very hard to find
She's always there each time you need her (each time you need her she is there)
She gives her love so willingly
But you just don't care you know that she'll be there
How I wish she'd felt that way about me
I would hold on, hold on, hold on tight
And make the whole world know she's mine
I would hold on, hold on, with all my might
A love like hers is very hard to find
Hold on, hold on
The song "Hold On" by Herman's Hermits captures the emotions of a person who observes a friend or acquaintance treating their partner poorly. The singer is asking the man to pause and reflect upon the love he has found in his partner before it's too late. The artist seems to be drawing upon personal experience, acknowledging that he wishes his love had been reciprocated like the woman in question in the song. The lyrics emphasize the importance of cherishing someone who loves you and is willing to do anything to make you happy. The chorus passionately calls the man to action, urging him to hold on to a love that is hard to find.
The lyrics of the song provide a simple yet powerful message about valuing true love. The song resonated well with the audience, becoming a big hit in the mid-1960s. It was one of the most popular songs by Herman's Hermits and has also been covered by other artists. The song is still relevant and continues to inspire people to value their partners and hold on to love that is hard to find.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold on, hold on
An expression of urgency, a call to action
You've got a girl who really loves you (you've got a girl who really cares)
Acknowledging that the listener is in a privileged position, being loved by another person
She'll do anything you ask her to
The extent of the listener's power over the loved one
Yet you treat her wrong oh you just string her along
An accusation of the listener's immoral behavior towards the loved one
Brother, if I were in your shoes
Offering a hypothetical situation in which the singer could relate to the listener's predicament
I would hold on, hold on, hold on tight
Emphasizing the importance of holding onto a valuable relationship
And make the whole world know she's mine
Valuing the loved one and claiming ownership of the relationship
A love like hers is very hard to find
Acknowledging the rarity and worth of the loved one's affection
She does her best to make you happy (she always does her very best)
Highlighting the efforts made by the loved one to please the listener
You do your best to make her blue
Reprimanding the listener for purposely causing the loved one emotional pain
Buddy, you've got it made but you'd rather go and play
Pointing out the ungrateful behavior of the listener
I know one thing for sure, if I were you
Reinforcing the hypothetical scenario in which the singer would act differently
She's always there each time you need her (each time you need her she is there)
Reiterating the loved one's unwavering support for the listener
She gives her love so willingly
Emphasizing the generosity of the loved one's affection
But you just don't care you know that she'll be there
Reprimanding the listener for taking advantage of the loved one's loyalty
How I wish she'd felt that way about me
Expressing the singer's own desire for the loved one
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: P. F. SLOAN, STEVE BARRI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Mrs. Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter
A great and classic song by Herman's Hermits.