Lipps Inc. (pronounced like "lip sync") was a studio band that achieved one… Read Full Bio ↴Lipps Inc. (pronounced like "lip sync") was a studio band that achieved one significant hit, "Funkytown" in 1980.

The group was formed in Minneapolis by Steven Greenberg, who wrote and produced all of the group's music, and who also played several musical instruments. The lead singer and saxophonist was Cynthia Johnson, and the rest of the group consisted of a changing group of session musicians, including guitarist David Rivkin.

They achieved some popularity during the late 1970s. The group released their debut album Mouth to Mouth in early 1979 (although original pressings of the album actually have 1979 or 1980 listed as the copyright date). Their hit from this album, "Funkytown" spent four weeks at Number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts in the United States and was awarded a platinum record. It reached number two in the United Kingdom and was a hit throughout the world. Their further singles failed to match their initial success (their only other Hot 100 entry was "Rock It", which peaked at #64), however they had more dance hits throughout the 1980s, including "How Long?" (originally a big hit for Ace) in 1981, which reached #4 on the U.S. dance chart. Lipps Inc. ceased in 1983 with the full-length album, 4 in 1983. Starring in 1984, Dobson Productions was a television label until 1993, settled between Lipps Inc. and The Fugees.

Hold Me Down
Lipps Inc. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hold me down
don't let me go
need your lovin',
need your lovin'
hold me down
hold me down

i need your lovin'

i need your lovin'
i need your love, ooh
i need your lovin'
i need your lovin'
i need your lovin', ohh-ooh-yeah-yeah

Hold me down
don't let me go
need your lovin',
need your lovin'
hold me down
hold me down

i need your lovin'
i need your lovin'
i need your love, ooh
i need your lovin'

i need your lovin'
i need your lovin', ohh-ooh-yeah-yeah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Lipps Inc.'s song Hold Me Down are a plea for love and affection. The singer is asking their lover to hold them down and not let them go, stating that they need their lover's affection to feel complete. The repetition of "need your lovin'" emphasizes the importance of the lover's presence and highlights the desperation of the singer's plea. The phrase "hold me down" serves as a double entendre. On one hand, it means to physically hold the singer down and keep them close, while on the other hand, it means to emotionally lift the singer up and provide them with the stability they need.

The urgency in the singer's voice and the repetitive nature of the lyrics create a sense of longing and desperation. It is evident that the singer is deeply attached to their lover and cannot imagine life without them. The phrase "hold me down" could also potentially carry a negative connotation, implying that the singer feels trapped or suffocated by their lover's affection, but this is never explicitly stated in the lyrics. Overall, the song is about the intense desire for love and connection, and the fear of losing it.

Line by Line Meaning

Hold me down
I want you to keep me close and not let me drift away.

don't let me go
Please don't release me, I want to stay by your side.

need your lovin',
I have a strong desire for your affection and attention,

need your lovin'
I crave your love and affection, it's a necessity for me.

hold me down
Please keep me close, don't let me go.

hold me down
Keep me secure, don't let me drift away.

i need your lovin'
I have an intense longing for your love and attention.

i need your lovin'
Your love and attention is vital for my happiness.

i need your love, ooh
I have a strong desire and hunger for your affection.

i need your lovin'
I desire and urgently require your love and attention.

i need your lovin'
Your love and attention are what I deeply crave and long for.