Born in Providence, RI, Jeffrey Osborne was the youngest of 12 children and was constantly bombarded with music as he was growing up. He had five brothers and six sisters, some of whom went on to have music careers. His father, Clarence "Legs" Osborne, was a popular trumpeter who played with Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington, and died when Jeffrey was only 13. His mother, Wanita, is ancestored by a Pequot Indian sachem. His oldest brother, Clay Osborne, is a singer and pianist, and Billy, another brother, is a songwriter and producer in Los Angeles. But Osborne's father had the greatest influence on his musical career; Clarence "Legs" Osborne turned down many top band offers during his career to be with his family. It was only after receiving his mother's encouragement that Jeffrey left for Los Angeles to play with L.T.D. At the age of 15, he sat in with the O'Jays when the drummer was too tired to play, and went on to play with them for two weeks. It was at a Providence nightclub that fate brought him together with the band Love Men Ltd. in 1969.
Osborne's solo career has brought him five gold and platinum albums, including Stay With Me Tonight, Aymuk, and Only Human. He also recorded an album of duets with popular singer James Ingram, and scored an international hit with "On the Wings of Love" in 1982. Osborne's touring and recording continue to keep him busy much of the time, but he also devotes some of his time to charity work.
Holding On
Jeffrey Osborne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is very hard to do
When love is gone
And that's no lie
Holding on
Is very hard to do
When love is gone
Hey, hey, hey, yeah
I get you're unhappy, I know you gotta be (I know you gotta be)
?Cause it can drive you out your mind
There ain't no sense in cryin', it's time for you to leave (Time for you to leave)
Baby, that's the bottom line
I betcha lie awake nights and never rest a bit
And wish it all would disappear (Yeah)
But still the bottom line is you got to deal with it
And to yourself at least be fair
Said holding on
Is very hard to do
When love is gone
And that's no lie
Holding on
Is very hard to do
When love is gone
Hey, hey, hey, yeah
Ha-ha-ha
Who are you kidding
Doo doo doo doo
Ha-ha-ha
Who are you kidding
Doo doo doo doo
Ha-ha-ha
Who are you kidding
Doo doo doo doo
Ha-ha-ha
Who are you kidding
Said holding on
Is very hard to do
When love is gone
And that's no lie
Holding on
Is very hard to do
When love is gone
Hey, hey, hey, yeah
I get you're unhappy, I know you gotta be (I know you gotta be)
'Cause it can drive you out your mind
There ain't no sense in cryin', it's time for you to leave (Time for you to leave)
Baby, that's the bottom line
I betcha lie awake nights and never rest a bit
And wish it all would disappear (Yeah)
But still the bottom line is you got to deal with it
And to yourself at least be fair
Said holding on
Is very hard to do
When love is gone
And that's no lie
Holding on
Is very hard to do
When love is gone
When love is gone, hey
Holding on
Yeah, yeah, hey, yeah
When love is gone
Oh yeah
Holding on
Holding on is so very hard to do
When love is gone
So very hard to do, yeah, oh said
Ah, yeah
I said
Hey, I said
Listen to me now
When you know the feeling's gone
Then you've got to stop holdin' on
'Cause that makes it twice as bad
You can't give love that you don't have
So why drag it on and on and on
Holding on
Holding on and on and on, yeah
When love is gone
Hey, hey, said that I'm holding on
Holding on
Is so very hard to do when your love is gone
When love is gone
When your love is gone, yeah
Holding on
Is so very hard to do when the love is gone
When your love is gone
Yeah, yeah
Holding on
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Jeffrey Osborne's song, Holding On, is a heartfelt and emotional ballad about the difficulty of letting go of a love that has faded away. The lyrics are a reflection of the pains and struggles of moving on when love is no longer present. According to the artist, holding on to something that is no longer there can drive one to madness and despair. The pain can leave a person sleepless at night and wishing that the feelings would disappear. However, despite the pain, the bottom line is that one must move on and let go.
The song is a reminder that hanging on is not always the best thing to do when it comes to love. It is bittersweet to admit that it is time to let go, but there is a sense of relief that comes with it. Osborne reminds us that when love is gone, one cannot force it to come back. It is better to deal with the pain and move on as quickly as possible. The song is a message of hope and encouragement to people going through heartaches.
Line by Line Meaning
Holding on
Referring to the act of trying to keep a relationship intact despite negative feelings
Is very hard to do
Describing the difficulty in maintaining a relationship after love has dissipated
When love is gone
Acknowledging that the relationship is faltering and no longer based on love
And that's no lie
Emphasizing the reality of the situation
Hey, hey, hey, yeah
An interjection to add emphasis
I get you're unhappy, I know you gotta be (I know you gotta be)
Recognizing that the listener is experiencing negative emotions
'Cause it can drive you out your mind
Acknowledging the intensity of the situation
There ain't no sense in cryin', it's time for you to leave (Time for you to leave)
Suggesting that it is time for the listener to move on and end the relationship
Baby, that's the bottom line
Declaring that ending the relationship is the only solution
I betcha lie awake nights and never rest a bit
Imagining the listener's thoughts and concerns
And wish it all would disappear (Yeah)
Longing for the negative emotions and events to go away
But still the bottom line is you got to deal with it
Reiterating that the only way to move forward is by ending the relationship and facing the situation
And to yourself at least be fair
Encouraging the listener to treat themselves well and make the best decision for their own mental health
Ha-ha-ha
An interjection expressing amusement or mild surprise
Who are you kidding
Asking the listener who they are trying to fool
Doo doo doo doo
A meaningless vocalization
When you know the feeling's gone
When you recognize that the love in the relationship is no longer present
Then you've got to stop holdin' on
Encouraging the listener to let go of the relationship
'Cause that makes it twice as bad
Suggesting that trying to prolong the relationship only makes the situation worse
You can't give love that you don't have
Explaining that it is impossible to keep a relationship based on love if the love is no longer there
So why drag it on and on and on
Questioning the listener's decision to keep trying to make the relationship work despite the lack of love
Is so very hard to do when your love is gone
Emphasizing the difficulty in moving on from a relationship that has lost its love
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
An interjection expressing agreement or confirmation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gibbs615
Old school R&B soul music like this will ALWAYS be the best!
@michaelmcglothin3276
Ong
@dixiereinhardt3949
LOVED Jeffrey Osborne then and LOVE him now!!!
@sunshine9717
New music I like. But my era, 80's 90's. We just had the best Music. 🎶
@anthonytaylor7928
This came out in the late 70s
@ronaldmoody6756
There is no music better than old-school! It can put you in a good mood instantly!
@adrianford2497
Ronald Moody and he is old.school he bring back the groove ness
@martinplatt5928
100% agree.......wonderful music
@lysandrafleming9893
Ikr
@charmays6675
Yes..We gotta keep holding on!! Times like these