Rachel Platten (born Rachel Ashley Platten on 20 May 1981 in New York City)… Read Full Bio ↴Rachel Platten (born Rachel Ashley Platten on 20 May 1981 in New York City) is an American singer and songwriter. After releasing two albums independently in 2003 and 2011, she signed with Columbia Records in 2015 and released her debut single, "Fight Song", which peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, topped charts in the United Kingdom and peaked within the top ten of multiple charts worldwide. Platten won a Daytime Emmy Award for a live performance of the song on Good Morning America. Her major-label debut studio album, Wildfire (2016), was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and featured the follow-up singles "Stand by You" and "Better Place". Her second major-label album, Waves (2017), peaked at number 73 in the United States of America.

Hands
Rachel Platten Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey, Rachel, just wanted to say hi
And I hope everything's going well for you
And you're have, having a good time in New York?
So, sorry I missed you
If, if you get a chance, sweetie, call me

You were early every weekday to take me home
Your car was always the closest to Washington Road

Like a blanket, I was wrapped in your arms, so warm
They say Boston's the coldest, but I wouldn't know

There was no falling down without you 'round to pick me up
And no tears that fell without your help to change my luck
And you taught me so much, I could not learn fast enough
About how to love someone wholeheartedly

You soldiered storms that you never spoke of
Built up a world that was all about us
If I close my eyes, I can still feel your touch
The warm steady shake of two hands
That love me too much, that love me too much

You took over for your family at just sixteen
Putting words onto paper, working tirelessly
You said, "your life should just be easy, love
I've worked enough for all of us
Just smile and shoot for stars above and read"

Because there was no falling down without you 'round to pick me up
And no tears that fell without your help to dry them up
You taught me so much, I could not learn fast enough
About how to love someone wholeheartedly

You soldiered storms that you never spoke of
Built up a world that was all about us
If I close my eyes, I can still feel your touch
The warm steady shake of two hands
That love me too much, that love me too much

Can I hold your, can I hold your hand forever?
And never let it go? I might never let it go
And can I ask you, can I ask you everything
That I ever want to know?
And, Nana, can you show me how to

Soldier big storms and not ever give up
And build up a world that is all about love
And not close my eyes when the water gets rough
To have warm steady hands just like you
That love me too much, that love me too much
That I'm worthy of, that love me too much

That love me too much
It was so nice to see you at my party
And having you sit with me, and we were so close
That I'm worthy of
And the singing the song from "So Delighted"

(That love me too much) so anyway, honey, I love you so much
Okay, now it's goodbye

Overall Meaning

The song "Hands" by Rachel Platten is a heartfelt tribute to someone who has had a profound impact on the singer's life. It begins with a voicemail message from Rachel to a person named "Nana," expressing her well wishes and hoping that everything is going well for them in New York. Rachel apologizes for missing the person's call and encourages them to reach out when they have a chance. This sets the tone of the song as a personal and intimate conversation between Rachel and this significant person in her life.

The lyrics then dive into Rachel's reflections on the person's role in her life. She acknowledges their constant presence, their unwavering support, and their warmth. The person was always there to pick her up when she fell down, to wipe away her tears, and to teach her valuable lessons about love and life. Rachel admires their strength and resilience, highlighting how they soldiered through their own struggles while remaining a source of comfort and stability for her. The line "you soldiered storms that you never spoke of" suggests that this person quietly faced their own challenges without burdening Rachel with them.

As the song progresses, Rachel expresses her desire to hold this person's hand forever and to never let go. She seeks their guidance on how to navigate difficult situations, like soldiering through storms, building a world centered on love, and not giving up when faced with adversity. Rachel recognizes the immense love this person has for her and acknowledges that she is worthy of it. The song concludes with Rachel reminiscing about spending time with this person at her party and expressing her love for them before bidding them goodbye.

Overall, the lyrics of "Hands" illustrate a deep appreciation and love for someone who has had a profound impact on Rachel Platten's life. It is a touching tribute to the strength, support, and love offered by this person, and serves as a reminder of their enduring influence.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey, Rachel, just wanted to say hi
I wanted to take a moment to greet Rachel and show my interest in her well-being

And I hope everything's going well for you
I genuinely wish for everything to be going smoothly in Rachel's life

And you're have, having a good time in New York?
I'm curious if Rachel is enjoying her time in New York

So, sorry I missed you
Expressing regret for not being able to see Rachel

If, if you get a chance, sweetie, call me
If Rachel finds a moment, I would appreciate it if she could reach out and contact me

You were early every weekday to take me home
You were consistently punctual and responsible in picking me up from school

Your car was always the closest to Washington Road
Out of all the cars, yours was always positioned closest to Washington Road

Like a blanket, I was wrapped in your arms, so warm
Being embraced by you felt comforting and secure, just like being wrapped in a warm blanket

They say Boston's the coldest, but I wouldn't know
Although people claim that Boston is extremely cold, I never experienced it firsthand

There was no falling down without you 'round to pick me up
I never faced failure alone because you were always there to support and uplift me

And no tears that fell without your help to change my luck
Whenever I cried, you were the one who provided assistance and turned my fortune around

And you taught me so much, I could not learn fast enough
You imparted invaluable wisdom and knowledge to me at a pace I struggled to keep up with

About how to love someone wholeheartedly
You showed me the importance of loving someone with complete sincerity and dedication

You soldiered storms that you never spoke of
You faced personal difficulties and challenges without ever mentioning them to others

Built up a world that was all about us
You created a beautiful environment that revolved entirely around our relationship and bond

If I close my eyes, I can still feel your touch
Even if I close my eyes, I can vividly remember and feel the sensation of your touch

The warm steady shake of two hands
The gentle and constant motion of our joined hands, exuding warmth

That love me too much, that love me too much
Hands that hold an abundance of love and affection for me

You took over for your family at just sixteen
At the young age of sixteen, you assumed responsibility for your family's well-being

Putting words onto paper, working tirelessly
You dedicated yourself tirelessly to writing and expressing your thoughts on paper

You said, 'your life should just be easy, love
You believed that life should be simple and effortless for your loved ones

I've worked enough for all of us
You felt you had already endured enough hardship on behalf of everyone

Just smile and shoot for stars above and read'
You advised me to wear a smile, aim high, reach for my goals, and indulge in reading

Because there was no falling down without you 'round to pick me up
I never experienced any setbacks without your presence to support and uplift me

And no tears that fell without your help to dry them up
Whenever I shed tears, you were there to provide comfort and wipe them away

You taught me so much, I could not learn fast enough
You bestowed upon me an abundance of knowledge that I struggled to absorb quickly

About how to love someone wholeheartedly
You educated me on the art of loving someone with complete sincerity and devotion

Can I hold your, can I hold your hand forever?
Is it possible for me to grasp your hand and keep holding it for eternity?

And never let it go? I might never let it go
Would it be possible for me to never release your hand? I may never be able to do so

And can I ask you, can I ask you everything
May I inquire about anything and everything?

That I ever want to know?
Is it permissible for me to seek answers to all the questions I have?

And, Nana, can you show me how to
Moreover, Nana, would you be able to demonstrate to me the process of

Soldier big storms and not ever give up
Enduring immense challenges and never surrendering

And build up a world that is all about love
Creating a nurturing environment that revolves around love

And not close my eyes when the water gets rough
Refusing to shut my eyes during turbulent times

To have warm steady hands just like you
Yearning to possess hands that are warm and unwavering, similar to yours

That love me too much, that love me too much
Hands that embrace me with an overwhelming amount of love and affection