Rory Block was born in Princeton, New Jersey and grew up in Manhattan. Her father, Allan Block, ran a sandal shop in Greenwich Village in the 1960s, and the constant presence of members of the Greenwich Village folk music scene made an impression on the young girl, who studied classical guitar. Around age 14, she began to be fascinated by old Mississippi Delta blues, listening to old albums, transcribing them, and learning to play the songs. At age 15, she left home to seek out the remaining blues giants, such as Mississippi John Hurt, Reverend Gary Davis and Son House, and hone her craft in the traditional manner of blues musicians; then she moved to California where she played in clubs and coffeehouses.
After retiring temporarily to raise a family, Block returned to the music business in the 1970s with middling success until signing with Rounder Records in 1981, who encouraged her to return to her love for the classical blues form. Since then she has carved out her own niche, releasing numerous critically acclaimed albums of original and traditional songs, including many Robert Johnson covers. Block has won four W. C. Handy Awards, two for "Traditional Blues Female Artist" (1997, 1998), and two for "Acoustic Blues Album of the Year" (1996, 1999).
Holdin' On
Rory Block Lyrics
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When you come around here
With that love light in your eyes
'Cause you know it's over, and we're not
Supposed to see each other for awhile
Didn't we agree, to give each other distance
And to let each other wander
With no questions
Holding on, it's like a shadow
At my bedside in the moonlight
From the dark until the dawn
Baby you upset me
When you slip your arm around me
And pull me down so close
And you say you miss me
That no one else can catch your eye
You know that it upsets me, to see your face
Glancing downward
With the teardrops in your eye
And you look much older
I thought you said you'd never miss me
Diamond man, tall as a willow
Like a ripple in my window
I feel you watching me
I'm thinking that you've changed
Thinking that you've changed
The lyrics to Rory Block’s song Holdin’ On describe the conflicting feelings of two people who have agreed to distance themselves from one another but are still holding onto their love. The vocalist is upset by the other person’s presence and the fact that they are still showing affection despite their agreement to break apart. The lines “Didn't we agree, to give each other distance / And to let each other wander” indicate that they have previously discussed this need for distance, yet they are both struggling to let go. The chorus uses the imagery of a shadow at bedside to describe the lingering presence of their love, even in their absence from one another.
The second verse describes the man putting his arm around her, expressing that he misses her and that no one else can catch his eye, which only upsets the vocalist further. She notices his face glancing downward with tears in his eyes, which makes him seem much older. She expresses her confusion over what has changed, as they had previously agreed to give each other space. The lyrics “Diamond man, tall as a willow / Like a ripple in my window / I feel you watching me” describe the man’s presence as sleek and noticeable, yet still distant.
Overall, the song explores the complexities of a relationship that has ended but refuses to be fully put to rest. The two individuals are struggling to fully let go of their love and the emotions that come with it, despite their agreement. The use of visual imagery and conflicting emotions adds depth to the lyrics and allows listeners to empathize with both sides of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby you upset me
You always upset me when you come to me and show your love that I don't want to see anymore.
When you come around here
Whenever you come close to me or visit me.
With that love light in your eyes
When I see the love and affection in your eyes that I cannot return.
'Cause you know it's over, and we're not
We both know that our relationship has ended, and we cannot stay together anymore.
Supposed to see each other for awhile
We agreed to keep some distance from each other and not to meet for a while.
Didn't we agree, to give each other distance
We had agreed to keep our distance from one another.
And to let each other wander
We agreed to let each other go and live our lives independently.
With no questions
We decided to not ask each other anything about our lives after we separated.
Then why these questions in our eyes?
Why do we show our curiosity and ask questions with our eyes about each other's lives?
Holding on, it's like a shadow
Holding on to our past relationship is like a shadow that follows us everywhere we go.
At my bedside in the moonlight
Even while I am alone in my bed at night, I can feel the memory of our past love like a presence by my side.
From the dark until the dawn
It feels like the shadow of our past love is there with me through the darkness of the night until the sunrise of the next morning.
Baby you upset me
You always upset me when you try to hug me and say that you miss me.
When you slip your arm around me
Whenever you try to come close to me and hug me tightly.
And pull me down so close
And you try to bring me close to you by pulling me tightly towards yourself.
And you say you miss me
You say you miss me and that no one can take my place in your life.
That no one else can catch your eye
You are saying that you still love me and that no one else can attract your attention anymore.
You know that it upsets me, to see your face
You know that I get upset when I see your face and your longing for me.
Glancing downward
When you look away from my eyes towards the ground in shame.
With the teardrops in your eye
When you cry in front of me, expressing your grief for our separation.
And you look much older
You seem to have aged considerably since our separation.
I thought you said you'd never miss me
I remember you saying that you would never miss me and forget about me, but now you're showing me otherwise.
Diamond man, tall as a willow
Someone resembling a tall man covered in dazzling diamonds as majestic as a willow tree.
Like a ripple in my window
A fluctuation or disturbance like the movement of water waves in the glass pane of my window.
I feel you watching me
I sense your presence, as if you are observing me from the distance.
I'm thinking that you've changed
I am realizing that you are not the same person I knew before.
Thinking that you've changed
I am doubting whether your feelings for me are the same or not.
Writer(s): Larry Troutman, Roger Troutman, Clarence Henry Reid, Levi Jr Seacer, Billy Steele, Willie James Clarke
Contributed by Joseph F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jo arriola
loved it ,thanks for the lyrics
José Alonso
It has been a pleasure. I'm glad you liked it. Best regards
Letitia Luca
❤❤....!
José Alonso
Thank you very much Letitia. Goodnight