Cash released her first single in 1979, a duet with Bobby Bare called "We Don't Need No Memories Hangin' 'Round". Two years later, she had her first country No. 1 (and the biggest commercial hit of her career), "Seven Year Ache". Although Cash was a prominent country star throughout the '80s, alongside fellow decade-defining artists Emmylou Harris, Juice Newton, and Dolly Parton, her music was anything but traditional: She topped the charts with songs written not only by herself, but by her father ("Tennessee Flat Top Box"), John Hiatt ("The Way We Make a Broken Heart"), Tom Petty ("Never Be You") and the Beatles ("I Don't Want to Spoil the Party"), "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me", which won her a Grammy in 1985, and "It's Such a Small World", a 1987 duet with Rodney Crowell on his album Diamonds & Dirt, provided further hits. A sampling of these songs and more are included on the compilation Hits 1979-1989. In 1979, she married Rodney Crowell, who was to produce most of her hit records. Their stormy marriage lasted until 1992; its break-up is chronicled in Cash's Interiors and in Crowell's album Life Is Messy. Cash later married John Leventhal, who produced her albums The Wheel, 10 Song Demo, Rules of Travel, and Black Cadillac.
To date, Cash has had more than twenty top 40 country singles, including eleven chart-toppers, but none since 1990, and she has left Nashville in both spirit and body to pursue her artistic vision. Although she had recorded all of her hits for Columbia Records' Nashville division, she released 10 Song Demo for the pop division of Capitol. Cash resurfaced in 2003 with Rules of Travel. The album features guest appearances by Sheryl Crow and Steve Earle, as well as a tune penned by Joe Henry and the Wallflowers' Jakob Dylan. Cash's latest album, entitled Black Cadillac, was released by Capitol Records in January 2006 to critical acclaim. Many of the songs were written by Cash and address the losses (within a 24-month span) of her step-mother, her father, her step-sister (Rosey Nix Adams) and then finally her mother on Cash's fiftieth birthday.
Hold On
Rosanne Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you want to see how good it can be, baby, hold on
All my friends think that I'm a fool
I tell you something honey, they're not that cool
If you want to keep a woman like me, you better hold on
If you want to know how far we can go, you got to hold on
If you take it slow then I got something to show you
All those girls with their empty heads
Can't fill 'em up with the lies they've been fed
If you want to know how far I can go, you got to hold on
She'll give you reasons for her kind
You might believe it, but I'm not that blind
If you think you need a woman like me, you better hold on
If you want to find what I've got on my mind, baby, hold on
All this small talk that keeps us apart
Is only hiding how we feel in our hearts
If you want to keep a woman like me, baby, hold on
In the song "Hold On" by Rosanne Cash, the lyrics revolve around the idea of commitment and trust in a relationship. The lines "If you want to keep a woman like me, you got to hold on" and "If you want to know how far we can go, you got to hold on" emphasize the importance of hanging on to one another through the ups and downs of a partnership. The lyrics also suggest a sense of self-worth as the singer tells her suitor that she won't settle for anything less than being held onto tightly.
Furthermore, the song seems to take a shot at the superficiality of other women and the false promises they make to men: "All those girls with their empty heads, Can't fill 'em up with the lies they've been fed." The focus on authenticity and sincerity in connection is a common theme throughout Cash's music, and "Hold On" is no exception. The song culminates in the lines "All this small talk that keeps us apart, Is only hiding how we feel in our hearts," implying that true communication and emotional honesty are necessary for a successful relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want to keep a woman like me, you got to hold on
If you want to have a successful relationship with a woman like me, you have to put in the effort and invest in it.
If you want to see how good it can be, baby, hold on
If you want to experience the full potential of our relationship, hold on and don't let go.
All my friends think that I'm a fool
My friends don't understand why I want to be with you and they think it's a bad idea.
I tell you something honey, they're not that cool
Despite what my friends say, I believe in us and I think they are wrong.
If you want to know how far we can go, you got to hold on
To find out how far we can take this relationship, you need to hold on and not give up.
If you take it slow then I got something to show you
If we take things slow, I have some great experiences to share with you.
All those girls with their empty heads
Other girls I know may seem attractive on the surface, but they lack depth and substance.
Can't fill 'em up with the lies they've been fed
Their shallow personalities can't be fixed with the lies they've been told, they need someone genuine.
If you want to know how far I can go, you got to hold on
To get a true sense of my potential in this relationship, you need to hold on and continue to invest in it.
She'll give you reasons for her kind
Other women may give you excuses for their behavior, but I won't do that.
You might believe it, but I'm not that blind
You may be fooled by other women's explanations, but I see through them and won't make those same mistakes.
If you think you need a woman like me, you better hold on
If you truly believe you need someone like me in your life, then you need to hold on and work to make this relationship successful.
If you want to find what I've got on my mind, baby, hold on
If you want to understand my thoughts and feelings, then you need to hold on and continue to communicate with me.
All this small talk that keeps us apart
The meaningless conversation that keeps us from truly connecting and sharing our feelings.
Is only hiding how we feel in our hearts
The small talk is a barrier to true intimacy and is masking the deep feelings we have for each other.
If you want to keep a woman like me, baby, hold on
If you want to keep someone like me in your life, don't let go and keep investing in our relationship.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: ROSANNE CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Amber Girl 78
great song! Rosanne Cash is one of my favorites
Gladys Lopez
Amber Girl 78
collectorvinyl45s
FANTASTIC album. One of my favorite female singers. Liked her from first time I heard "Couldn't Do Nothing Right". Her career should have lasted longer.
Rosanne Cash
... Hi there
Thanks for your love and support that has brought me this far, it has been a hard time for me going through this but your love and support keeps me going and standing strong in this difficult times. I do read your heartwarming comments and I truly appreciate all youโve done for me throughout the years.
Itโs a season of love๐โค๏ธโค๏ธ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my YouTube channel and checking out on my fans, so I can get to communicate with my fans better through discussion of depth and humor listening to o and criticism of my career.๐๐๐๐๐
RyuHayabusa06
Haven't heard this in 30 years. Thanks for posting. Taking me back to my childhood.
helmet959
i've got this and seven year ache on vinyl, i LOVE them both. now i just need King's Record Shop and Interiors. i didn't know this album is out of print! it's brilliant. even though by itself I like the song Seven Year Ache more than anything she's ever done, i think this album is more consistent from front to back. god bless rosanne. she's inspired more people than she'll ever know.
Rosanne Cash
.. Hi there
Thanks for your love and support that has brought me this far, it has been a hard time for me going through this but your love and support keeps me going and standing strong in this difficult times. I do read your heartwarming comments and I truly appreciate all youโve done for me throughout the years.
Itโs a season of love๐โค๏ธโค๏ธ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my YouTube channel and checking out on my fans, so I can get to communicate with my fans better through discussion of depth and humor listening to o and criticism of my career.๐๐๐๐๐
Robert T. Stanley
They dont make them like this anymore, man what a sound!!!
EUPHONY
Had the pleasure of listening to this song after 30 years. Bundle of thanks for posting it.
Starbuckin
WOW! Thanks for the upload! This song is INCREDIBLE! Takes me back, I wish I could forever live in the Great 80's!