Hold Me Close
Lucero Lyrics


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I was drunk by noon on new years day
In the hills outside of town some place
With the smoke and the wine
And a stranger's eyes

Smoke and the wine and the whiskey don't mix
Shakin' so bad, think I'm gonna be sick
Buy 'nother scotch as I head to the door
Now it won't make me better
But I wanna make sure

Now hold, me close,
I love you more than you know
And I step outside

Now I drank away all of my fears and my doubts
Stole away hearts from town to town
Now the things I fear
Come back here

I feel the cold ground underneath my boots
For no good reason it reminds me of you
Never made good, though I tried and I tried
So I turn back around...
And I walk inside

Now hold, me close
I love you more than you know
Now hold, me close




I love you more than you know
And that won't make things right

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lucero's song "Hold Me Close" tell the story of a person who is dealing with the aftermath of their actions. The song opens with the singer admitting that they are drunk by noon on New Year's Day in some isolated place in the hills outside of town. The scene is set with the imagery of smoke and wine, and the presence of a stranger adds to the feelings of disconnection and regret. The singer is struggling with the consequences of their choices, and as they try to drink away their fears and doubts, they find themselves shaking and feeling sick.


The chorus of the song is an emotional plea for someone to hold the singer close and to reassure them of their love. The singer recognizes that they have made mistakes and that they are dealing with the repercussions of those actions. The line "now hold me close, I love you more than you know" is a cry for forgiveness and acceptance, a recognition that the singer's problems cannot be solved overnight, but that they need someone to be there for them.


The second verse of the song finds the singer reflecting on the fact that they have wandered from town to town, leaving broken hearts in their wake. Now they find themselves confronted with the things they fear, and in the coldness of the ground under their boots, they are reminded of the person they love. Despite their attempts to be a better person, they feel like they have failed, but the refrain of the chorus is once again a plea for someone to hold them close and to love them despite their mistakes.


Line by Line Meaning

I was drunk by noon on new years day
I started drinking very early on New Year's Day


In the hills outside of town some place
I went to a remote area away from the town


With the smoke and the wine
I was drinking wine while smoking


And a stranger's eyes
I made eye contact with a stranger


Smoke and the wine and the whiskey don't mix
I mixed different types of alcohol and it made me feel ill


Shakin' so bad, think I'm gonna be sick
I felt so sick that I thought I would throw up


Buy 'nother scotch as I head to the door
I ordered another scotch before leaving


Now it won't make me better
Drinking more won't make me feel better


But I wanna make sure
I still wanted to drink despite feeling unwell


Now hold, me close,
I want someone to hold me tightly


I love you more than you know
I care deeply for the person holding me


And I step outside
I leave the building and step outside


Now I drank away all of my fears and my doubts
I used alcohol to numb my fears and doubts


Stole away hearts from town to town
I broke people's hearts as I moved from one town to another


Now the things I fear
My fears are catching up to me


Come back here
My fears have returned


I feel the cold ground underneath my boots
I notice the cold ground beneath my feet


For no good reason it reminds me of you
The ground reminds me of the person I care about


Never made good, though I tried and I tried
I tried hard to succeed but never did


So I turn back around...
I decide to go back inside


And I walk inside
I re-enter the building


And that won't make things right
Even though I'm back inside, it won't solve my problems




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Benjamin Nichols

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

@donetoshmahurr3940

I was drunk by noon on new years day
In the hills outside of town some place
With the smoke and the wine
And a stranger's eyes
Smoke and the wine and the whiskey don't mix
Shakin' so bad, think I'm gonna be sick
Buy 'nother scotch as I head to the door
Now it won't make me better
But I wanna make sure
Now hold, me close,
I love you more than you know
And I step outside
Now I drank away all of my fears and my doubts
Stole away hearts from town to town
Now the things I fear
Come back here
I feel the cold ground underneath my boots
For no good reason it reminds me of you
Never made good, though I tried and I tried
So I turn back around...
And I walk inside
Now hold, me close
I love you more than you know
Now hold, me close
I love you more than you know
And that won't make things right



All comments from YouTube:

@loserguy1022

Great band. Also, great movie-Shotgun Stories. Been listening to Lucero for 10 years now...one of the best bands out there.

@makin1982

im goin through a horrible depression right now and hearing this song makes me feel like ben roy brian and john all have a hand on my shoulders trying to get me to stand back up and realize im not alone

@nickbagelboy

You've got this dude!! You're totally not alone. I'm the in same boat rowin with ya man. Just keep on keepin on. You'll be dead before you know it, so just enjoy it as much as you can. I know it doesn't seem like it's worth it, but it is, and you're still alive (hopefully, seeing as this is from 2 months ago), so you know deep down inside it's still worth living. I wish you all the best. Love ya dude!! Hope all is well!!

@MNDRZ333

Joe Clark you are not alone my friend ❤️

@dca9143

Lucero has many of these deep cut songs. 20 years of them being a band and I'm going to see them for the 1st time tomorrow night at the Ottobar. Listening to all my favorites tonight. This surely is one of them. 💯

@ciromondlane3270

Thank you for being part of Jeff Nichols Film
An authentic Masterpiece

@honchophil

I'd give anything for her to be here holding me now.
God damn I miss her.

@monotributista

Shotgun Stories bring me Here. Awesome track for an awesome movie

@joeb4973

I’ve been listening to this band on and off for the last 20 years. Love their music but every time I get on a lucero roll the depression just gets worse and worse. I can only take so much and then I have to put it down for awhile

@MrFraccobaldo

one of the saddest songs ever penned. It makes me beautifully sad

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