He Won't Hold You
Jacob Collier Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

He won't hold you
Like I do (no)
He won't bring out
The love in you

(He won't hold you)
I've been feeling down and out lately
(Like I do)
Baby since you left me
(He won't hold you)
It's been so long since your body held me
(Like I do)
Won't you come and save me?
(He won't hold you)
I never was misunderstood, baby
(Like I do)
Since the day you met me
(He won't hold you)
Now I'm lost, I'm on my own, I feel so lonely
(Like I do)
Won't you resurrect me?

(He won't hold you)
And all across from all around
The people make a people sound
They dance along the avenue
Of what I thought I knew
(He won't hold you)
And all across from all around
The people make a people sound (he won't)
They dance along the avenue
Of what I am to you

I won't be alright
I won't be alright
I won't be alright
And I won't be alright (say it again)

Things rearrange, we miss what is not the same
I learned the value of what we had, taught by pain
Caught the rain
Used it to wash my wounds
Learned the other side's grass wasn't as green, I bloomed, I grew
Took separation to get closer to you
You didn't let go and I held onto
Your arms were my armor
Karma cut us loose
You learned value, I learned truth
No one holds me down the way you do
But your feelings out there spill over, and over and over
Just a cover for insecurities, I couldn't show to him
I had to face myself, my fears, my fails
Now I know there's nothing I can't do
I dance in the rain knowin' I can swim too
Found liberation, found my freedom
Where it begins is without you
I understand now
My only one, without you

(He won't hold you)
And all across from all around
The people make a people sound
They dance along the avenue
Of what I thought I knew
(He won't hold you)
And all across from all around (across from all around)
The people make a people sound (the people sound)
They dance along the avenue (the avenue)
Of what I hound to

I won't be alright (I won't)
I won't be alright




I won't be alright (be alright)
And I won't be alright

Overall Meaning

The song "He Won't Hold You" by Jacob Collier and Rapsody is a beautiful ballad about heartbreak and the struggle to move on. The lyrics depict the pain of losing someone and feeling alone in a crowded world. The singer longs for their former love, but acknowledges that they aren't coming back. The repeated refrain "He won't hold you like I do" emphasizes this painful realization, while the verses explore the singer's emotions and memories of the past.


The first verse sets the tone for the song, with the singer expressing their sadness and loneliness. They miss their former partner's touch and the way they brought out the love inside of them. The second verse is more introspective, with the singer contemplating their own role in the breakup. They admit that they weren't always understood, but since meeting their partner everything changed. Now they feel lost without them and long for their return.


The bridge of the song is particularly poignant, with the lyrics "Things rearrange, we miss what is not the same / I learned the value of what we had, taught by pain." This describes the process of healing after a breakup and realizing the importance of the relationship. The singer has grown and learned from the experience, but still feels the pain of losing their love.


Overall, "He Won't Hold You" is a touching and emotional song that captures the heartache of lost love.


Line by Line Meaning

He won't hold you
I've been feeling down and out lately


Like I do
Baby since you left me


He won't bring out
It's been so long since your body held me


The love in you
Won't you come and save me?


I won't be alright
Things rearrange, we miss what is not the same


I won't be alright
I learned the value of what we had, taught by pain


I won't be alright
Caught the rain


And I won't be alright (say it again)
Used it to wash my wounds


They dance along the avenue
Of what I thought I knew


Of what I am to you


And all across from all around


The people make a people sound


They dance along the avenue


I won't be alright (I won't)
Learned the other side's grass wasn't as green, I bloomed, I grew


I won't be alright
Took separation to get closer to you


I won't be alright (be alright)
You didn't let go and I held onto


And I won't be alright
Your arms were my armor


And all across from all around (across from all around)
Karma cut us loose


The people make a people sound (the people sound)
You learned value, I learned truth


They dance along the avenue (the avenue)
No one holds me down the way you do


Of what I hound to




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Jacob Collier, Marlanna Evans

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@lucaslabarussiat3887

If you just arrived here, if you're not used to Jacob,if you don't understand the hype around his music, please don't stop at your first listening.
Take some time. Sit on your couch, get good headphones. Listen to this peace of arts not once, not twice.
Listen to it ten times on a raw, even more, even if you have no musical knowledge like I do, until you get a grasp of most of the voices, most of the musical parts. Until you get all the lyrics if you're French like I am (sorry for my mistakes by the way). Until you can see these more than wonderful paintings that is this video clip. Until you can see the pictures by listening to this song. Until you can see the big picture, the wonderful structure. Until you can hear, see, feel, and take by the hand a holistic approach to this masterpiece.

Once you're here, you get it. You can feel it in your bones. You get the chills. You get the hype. You can feel all the links created and underlined by Jacob's music.

I must warn you though : once you've been here, you're hooked. Nevermind the place or time, this piece will have your soul bounce and leap above what you imagined was possible.

This is art. This is love. This is links. I'm hooked, please get onboard.



@filipbook5605

Things rearrange we miss what is not the same
I learned the value of what we had taught by pain
Caught the rain, used it to wash my wounds.
Learned the other side's grass wasn't as green
I bloomed I grew
Took separation to get closer to you
You didn't let go and I held on too
Your arms were my armor, karma cut us loose
You learned value I learned truth
No one holds me down the way you do
But your feelings I let spill over and over and over
Just to cover for insecurities I couldn't show the hell
I had to face my self my fears my fails
Now I know there's nothing I can't do
I dance in the rain knowing I can swim too
Found liberation, Found my freedom

Where it begins is without you,
I understand now,
My only one.

Without you.



@gennysantagiuliana576

Lyrics
Intro: Jacob Collier]
He won't hold you
Like I do (No)
He won't bring out
The love in you

[Verse 1: Jacob Collier]
(He won't hold you)
I've been feeling down and out lately
(Like I do)
Baby since you left me
(He won't hold you)
It's been so long since your body held me
(Like I do)
Won't you come and save me?
(He won't hold you)
I never was I misunderstood, baby
(Like I do)
Since the day you met me
(He won't hold you)
Now I'm lost, I'm on my own, it feels so lonely
(Like I do)
Won't you resurrect me?

[Chorus: Jacob Collier]
(He won't hold you)
And all across from all around
The people make a people sound
They dance along the avenue
Of what I thought I knew
(He won't hold you)
And all across from all around
The people make a people sound (He won't)
They dance along the avenue
Of what I hound to

[Post-Chorus: Jacob Collier]
I won't be alright
I won't be alright
I won't be alright
And I won't be alright (Say it again)

[Verse 2: Rapsody]
Things rearrange, we miss what is not the same
I learned the value of what we had, taught by pain
Caught the rain
Used it to wash my wounds
Learned the other side's grass' wasn't as green, I bloomed, I grew
Took separation to get closer to you
You didn't let go and I held onto
Your arms were my armor
Karma cut us loose
You learned value, I learned truth
No one holds me down the way you do
But your feelings out there spill over, and over and over
Just to cover for insecurities, I couldn't show to him
I had to face myself, my fears, my feels
Now I know there's nothing I can't do
I dance in the rain knowin' I can swim too
Found liberation, found my freedom
Where it begins is without you
I understand now
My only one, without you

[Chorus: Jacob Collier]
(He won't hold you)
And all across from all around
The people make a people sound
They dance along the avenue
Of what I thought I knew
(He won't hold you)
And all across from all around
The people make a people sound (The people sound)
They dance along the avenue
Of what I hound to

[Post-Chorus: Jacob Collier]
I won't be alright
I won't be alright
I won't be alright (Be alright)
And I won't be alright

[Outro: Jacob Collier]
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm



@Narinjazz

"He Won't Hold You"
(feat. Rapsody)

He won't hold you
Like I do
He won't bring out
The love in you

I been feeling down and out lately
Baby since you left me
It's been so long since your body held me
Won't you come and save me

I never was misunderstood baby
Since the day you met me
But now I'm lost, I'm on my own, I feel so lonely
Won't you resurrect me

And all across
From all around
The people make
A people sound
They dance along
The avenue
Of what I thought I knew

And all across
From all around
The people make
A people sound
They dance along
The avenue
Of what I am to you

I won't
Be alright
I would
Be alright
I won't
Be alright
I would
Be alright

(Rapsody rap)
Things rearrange
We miss what is not the same
I learned the value
Of what we had taught by pain

Caught the rain, used it to wash my wounds
Learned the other side's grass wasn't as green
I bloomed, I grew

Took separation to get closer to you
You didn't let go and I held onto
Your arms were my armor, karma cut us loose
You learned value I learned truth

No one holds me down the way you do
But your feelings I let spill over and over and over
Just a cover for insecurities
I couldn't show the hell
I had to face myself, my fears, my feels

Now I know there's nothing I can't do
I dance in the rain knowing I can swim too
Found liberation, found my freedom
Where it begins is without you
I understand now, my love
My only one, without you

And all across
From all around
The people make
A people sound
They dance along
The avenue
Of what I thought I knew

And all across
From all around
The people make
A people sound
They dance along
The avenue
Of what I am to you

I won't
Be alright
I would
Be alright
I won't
Be alright
I would
Be alright



All comments from YouTube:

@andrewhuang

incredible use of space in both the music and the video

@callumwalsh6184

Absolutely! Its amazing how so many tracks seem so empty yet full :))

@leontsalagi2046

Quite the tune he's got here. I've got a feeling Djesse Vol. 3 is easily gonna be his biggest commercial success thus far (or at least I hope so!)

@MarshyxZ

His music is so uniquely him! Each song I've been listening of his is like a mini adventure full of insanely complex keys with feeling and meaning behind. One of the best musicians around

@eleckson

Shut up Andrew.

@leocostamusica

Incredible music, yes... and video to... but: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT2hFTKCXx4

58 More Replies...

@lucrio4088

What’s really impressive alongside the music itself is the fact that every frame of the video was hand painted. 1200 paintings over an 80 day period.

@briantarrant4907

Thats nuts man, I have no idea how this comment doesn't have more comments

@Lucifers-Stepdad

Really? Christ.

@jazzblossom4122

That is crazy amazing and inspiring!!!

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