American singer-songwriter Melissa Ferrick (born September 21, 1970) emerge… Read Full Bio ↴American singer-songwriter Melissa Ferrick (born September 21, 1970) emerged in 1991 as part of a group of new female alternative singer/songwriters, much in the vein of Liz Phair. Ferrick began singing in coffeehouses after dropping out of college, eventually winding up in Boston. Her major breakthrough arrived one night when she replaced Morrissey's opening act less than an hour before showtime. Ferrick's performance impressed Morrissey and he invited her to open for him during the rest of the tour. The tour earned her a small cult following as well as a contract with Atlantic Records. She released her first studio album, Massive Blur, in 1993.

In 2000, Ferrick founded her own record label, Right On Records. The first studio album released on her own label was Valentine Heartache.

Her 2011 album was entitled "Still Right Here".

Website: www.melissaferrick.com

Hold On
Melissa Ferrick Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

turn down the bed
turn down the lights
turn down your head
let me be your drug tonight

turn off the t.v.
turn off the phone
turn off all the justifications of why we never

should have come here alone

hold on
hold on to me
hold on
tell me i’m the one you’ve been waiting for all your life

so come on baby
show me your not afraid
show me that I don’t have to worry
that i’m going to scare you away

so keep your eyes on me
i’m likely to move too fast
‘cause i’m not sure where we’re going to end up you know and honest
I do not know how long this is going to last

hold on
hold on to me
hold on
tell me i’m the one you’ve been waiting for all your life
let me be you drug tonight

don’t say a word
don’t say a word
don’t say a word to anyone at all about this
don’t ruin this rush
don’t ruin this rush
don’t ruin this rush for me...hold on to me

hold on
tell me i’m the one you’ve been waiting for all your life
hold on to me
i’m the one you’ve been waiting for
tell me i’m the one you’ve been waiting for
tell me i’m the one you’ve been waiting for
all your life

let me be you drug
let me be you drug tonight

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Melissa Ferrick's song "Hold On" suggest a desire for intimate connection and a plea for the listener to hold onto that feeling. The singer begins by asking the listener to let go of external distractions, such as the lights and phone, to be fully present in the moment. They then urge the listener to show vulnerability and not be afraid to go deep, promising not to scare them away. The line "let me be your drug tonight" implies a desire to be someone's escape from reality, a temporary release from the pressures of the outside world. The repetition of "hold on to me" reinforces the sense of urgency and need for closeness.

The song speaks to the all-consuming desire for emotional and physical intimacy with another person. The singer longs to be the one someone has been waiting for their whole life, to be the one they choose and hold onto. The line "I’m not sure where we’re going to end up you know and honest, I do not know how long this is going to last" adds a level of uncertainty and unpredictability to the situation. The listener is urged to simply "hold on" and enjoy the rush of connection without overthinking or analyzing it. In essence, the song is a plea for vulnerability and the embrace of the unknown in the pursuit of deep connection.

Line by Line Meaning

turn down the bed
Prepare the bed for us to sleep

turn down the lights
Lower the brightness of the room

turn down your head
Relax and lay your head down

let me be your drug tonight
Let me be the source of your pleasure and contentment tonight

turn off the t.v.
Shut off the television

turn off the phone
Disconnect the phone so we can focus on each other

turn off all the justifications of why we never should have come here alone
Forget the reasons why we shouldn't have been alone together in this moment

hold on
Stay with me and don't let go

hold on to me
Hold onto me for support and comfort

tell me i’m the one you’ve been waiting for all your life
Express your devotion and commitment to me

so come on baby
Encouragement to participate

show me your not afraid
Demonstrate bravery and willingness

that i’m going to scare you away
Assurance that she won't put too much pressure on the partner

so keep your eyes on me
Focus on the performer and the moment being shared

i’m likely to move too fast
Acknowledge that the performer might get carried away with passion

‘cause i’m not sure where we’re going to end up you know and honest
Admission of uncertainty about their future

I do not know how long this is going to last
Uncertainty about the longevity of the relationship

don’t say a word to anyone at all about this
Request for discretion and privacy

don’t ruin this rush for me
Plea to maintain the current state of excitement