Julian Miles Holland (born 24 January 1958) is a British pianist, bandleade… Read Full Bio ↴Julian Miles Holland (born 24 January 1958) is a British pianist, bandleader ( Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra ), television presenter, architectural eccentric and pop music enthusiast. He was also a founding member of the highly acclaimed and successful band Squeeze.

You Really Got a Hold on Me
Jools Holland Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't like you
But I love you
Seems that I'm always
Thinking of you
Though oh, oh, oh,
You treat me badly
I love you madly
You've really got a hold on me

You've really got a hold on me, baby

I don't want you,
But I need you
Don't want to kiss you
But I need to
Oh, oh, oh
You do me wrong now
My love is strong now
You've really got a hold on me
You've really got a hold on me, baby

I love you and, all I want you to do
Is just hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me
Tighter, tighter

I want to leave you
Don't want to stay here
Don't want to spend
Another day here
Though Oh, oh, oh, I want to split now
I just can't quit now
You've really got a hold on me
You've really got a hold on me, baby

I love you and all I want you to do
Is just hold me, squeeze me, hold me, hold me

You've really got a hold on me

I've said you've really got a hold on me
You know you've really got a hold on me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jools Holland/Smokey Robinson's song "You Really Got a Hold on Me" conveys the mixed emotions of someone who is in love with a person they dislike. The first verse begins by indicating that the singer doesn't like the person, but they love them and can't stop thinking about how they are treated badly. Despite the negative treatment, they confess their deep love for this person. The second verse continues to express a contradiction in emotions, this time describing how the singer doesn't want to be with the person but needs them because the love they feel is so strong. The chorus emphasizes how this person has a hold on the singer.

The third verse expresses the same mixed emotions and desire to leave, but the singer confesses that they just can't seem to quit the person. The final lines of the chorus repeat the idea that this person has a strong grip on the singer, indicating that they have a hold on them emotionally. The repeated refrain of "hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me" communicates a deep longing for connection and physical touch, even while acknowledging the complexity and contradictions of their feelings.

Overall, these lyrics examine the complicated dynamics of a relationship in which the singer is torn between their emotions and their rational mind. Despite being mistreated and wanting to leave, they feel a strong love that keeps them tethered to this other person.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't like you
I don't have positive feelings for you

But I love you
Despite that, I have deep feelings of love for you

Seems that I'm always
It appears that I spend a lot of time

Thinking of you
Thinking about you and your impact on me

Though oh, oh, oh,
Even though

You treat me badly
You act negatively towards me

I love you madly
My love for you is intense and overpowering

You've really got a hold on me
You have a strong emotional influence over me

You've really got a hold on me, baby
This emotional influence is especially strong and directed towards me

I don't want you,
I don't desire you

But I need you
Despite that, I require you in my life

Don't want to kiss you
I don't desire physical intimacy with you

But I need to
I still require it due to my emotional attachment

You do me wrong now
You act in a negative manner towards me currently

My love is strong now
Despite that, my love for you is still very strong

I love you and, all I want you to do
My love for you leads me to desire one thing from you

Is just hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me
That thing is for you to hold me strongly and tightly

Tighter, tighter
To hug me as tightly as possible

I want to leave you
I desire to end our relationship

Don't want to stay here
I don't want to remain in this emotional state or situation

Don't want to spend
I don't desire to waste

Another day here
Any more time dealing with these emotions or situation

Though Oh, oh, oh, I want to split now
Even though I desire to end things

I just can't quit now
I am unable to end things due to my strong emotional attachment

You've really got a hold on me
Your emotional influence over me is exceptionally strong

You've really got a hold on me, baby
This influence is especially strong and directed towards me

Is just hold me, squeeze me, hold me, hold me
Once again, my emotional needs are simple and all I need from you is to hold me and hug me as tightly as you can

You've really got a hold on me
A final refrain of your powerful emotional influence over me

I've said you've really got a hold on me
As if to convince myself or someone else of the truth of my previous statements

You know you've really got a hold on me
A final statement of the truth of your emotional power over me

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: William Robinson Jr.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS