Change Your Style / Hooligan
John Holt Lyrics


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Hooligans, hooligans stop for a while
Change your hooligan style
Don't fight your brothers
You must use your head
Give a helping hand instead

Ooh what a great sensation
When love is in your soul
Spread it across the nation
Hooliganism is cold
Let only love fill your soul
Fill up your soul

What a man gain by doing wrong
Only letting down mankind
Check on yourself if you're doing alright
Forget about your pride

Ooh what a great sensation
When love is in your soul
Spread it across the nation
Hooliganism is cold
Let only love fill your soul
Fill up your soul

Hooligan, hooligan stop for a while
Change your hooligan style
Don't fight your brothers
You must use your head
Give a helping hand instead

Oh what a great sensation
When love is in your soul
Spread it across the nation
Hooliganism is cold




Let only love fill your soul
Fill up your soul

Overall Meaning

John Holt's song "Change Your Style/Hooligan" is a plea to hooligans to change their violent ways and embrace love instead. The song opens with Holt calling out to hooligans, asking them to "stop for a while" and change their ways. He goes on to encourage them to use their heads and give a helping hand to their brothers, rather than fighting with them. The chorus emphasizes the importance of love, with Holt singing about the great sensation that comes from having love in your soul and spreading it across the nation. The song ends with Holt repeating his call to hooligans to give up their violent tendencies and embrace love.


The lyrics of the song are simple but powerful, communicating a message of peace and unity. The song's use of the word "hooligan" is significant, as it connotes a specific type of violent behavior associated with football (soccer) games in the UK. The song can be seen as a commentary on this phenomenon, urging those who engage in hooliganism to change their ways.


John Holt was a prolific Jamaican singer and songwriter who rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s. He was known for his smooth, soulful voice and his ability to blend reggae, rock, and pop influences in his music. "Change Your Style/Hooligan" was released in 1974 and became one of Holt's most popular songs.


Line by Line Meaning

Hooligans, hooligans stop for a while
Addressing the hooligans, asking them to stop their actions and listen.


Change your hooligan style
Suggesting that they change their behavior and become better people.


Don't fight your brothers
Advising them not to fight with their own people.


You must use your head
Encouraging them to think before they act.


Give a helping hand instead
Proposing that they help others instead of causing trouble.


Ooh what a great sensation
Describing the feeling of having love in your heart.


When love is in your soul
Stating that having love within oneself is a good thing.


Spread it across the nation
Spreading the message of love to everyone in the country.


Hooliganism is cold
Suggesting that acting like a hooligan is negative and unpleasant.


Let only love fill your soul
Encouraging people to let love be the guiding force in their lives.


Fill up your soul
Filling up one's soul with love is essential to leading a productive life.


What a man gain by doing wrong
Asking what advantage someone derives from behaving badly.


Only letting down mankind
Stating that the consequences of bad behavior affects everyone negatively.


Check on yourself if you're doing alright
Advising people to self-reflect and ensure they are making the right choices.


Forget about your pride
Saying that letting go of pride is necessary for becoming a better person.


Hooligan, hooligan stop for a while
Addressing the hooligan again, asking them once again to listen.




Contributed by Mia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@HiDaN1080

Hooligans, hooligans stop for a while
Change your hooligan style
Don't fight your brothers
You must use your head
Give a helping hand instead

Ooh what a great sensation
When love is in your soul
Spread it across the nation
Hooliganism is cold
Let only love fill your soul
Fill up your soul

What a man gain by doing wrong
Only letting down mankind
Check on yourself if you're doing alright
Forget about your pride

Ooh what a great sensation
When love is in your soul
Spread it across the nation
Hooliganism is cold
Let only love fill your soul
Fill up your soul
---------------------------------------------------
Hooligans, hooligans stop for a while
Change your hooligan style
Don't fight your brothers
You must use your head
Give a helping hand instead

Ooh what a great sensation
When love is in your soul
Spread it across the nation
Hooliganism is cold
Let only love fill your soul
Fill up your soul



All comments from YouTube:

@errolbenjamin6143

A murda! 1 of my favorite John Holt.πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯

@maggyemirelesnesta3861

Big tune siempre sonando lo por los rumbos de MΓ©xico πŸ‡²πŸ‡½y que siempre suene THE PARAGONS πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯

@bennyclark4622

JUST DISCOVERED THIS ,BRILLIANT LOVE YOU TUBE ,ITS AMAZING ALL THIS GREAT MUSIC COMING OUT OF JAMICA

@pascalomathghamhna4883

When I heard the tune Bad Boys, I knew I'd heard it before. It was dis riddim, 20 years me lissen before. Proper wikked tune. Bless up the Paragons, John Holt working de lyric.

@oscarmiller6303

Memories by the score !

@cnaansoundsystem

Bless you rasta β€πŸ’šπŸ’›πŸ”―πŸ”―πŸ”―

@stephenmannings67

Wicked wicked big up

@luizfellipe2548

Que pedrada!!!

@INGLISHyardi

dead-i-cated & lively-cated too ALL those who are korrupt mentally & spiritually !!!

@joaobarreiromoreira

Hooliganism is cold!!!

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