Simply R… Read Full Bio ↴Simply Red is an English pop band, formed in the mid 1980s.
Simply Red's roots originate from the notorious 1976 Sex Pistols gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester. Manchester art student Mick Hucknall was one of the many young music fans present (along with original members of The Fall, Joy Division, The Smiths and Buzzcocks) who was inspired to form a band after witnessing that gig. The first incarnation of the band was a punk group called The Frantic Elevators. This band existed for 7 years, with limited releases on local labels, but split in 1984 with only limited local attention and critical acclaim for their final single, "Holding Back the Years".
After the demise of the Frantic Elevators, Hucknall linked up with manager Elliot Rashman. By early 1985 Hucknall and Rashman had assembled a band of local session musicians and began to attract record company attention. Around this time the group adopted the name Simply Red (after Hucknall's nickname, which denoted hair color, football allegiance to Manchester United and left-wing political affiliation). They signed to Elektra in 1985, with the somewhat changeable line-up of Hucknall, Tony Bowers (bass), Fritz McIntyre (keyboards), Tim Kellett (brass), Sylvan Richardson (guitar) and Chris Joyce (drums). Their first single, released in 1985, was "Money's Too Tight (To Mention)", a cover of a soul standard originally recorded by The Valentine Brothers. This single had moderate success, reaching the UK Top 20.
In 1986 the band re-recorded "Holding Back The Years", the Frantic Elevators' biggest hit, in a more accessible pop style with adjustments in lyrics and instrumentation. The tune became a major hit, peaking at #2 in Great Britain and later #1 in the United States, and established Simply Red as a household name. Their debut album, 'Picture Book', which had been released previously in 1985, began to sell more copies, and it became an international hit album, with multi-platinum certification.
Their second album, 1987's "Men and Women", saw the band adopting a more sober and professional image, with bowler hats and colorful suits replacing their earlier ragamuffin look, and the introspection and social commentary of their debut replaced by a blue-eyed soul sound with funk influences. Around this time Hucknall became a tabloid personality, drawing attention and criticism for his alleged womanising, and gaining a reputation as "a lecherous loudmouth" and bien pensant. Despite Hucknall's bad reputation and the album's bad reviews, or perhaps as a result of them, Men and Women was a commercial success.
With their third album "A New Flame", Simply Red adopted a yet more mainstream populist sound aimed for commercial rather than critical success, typified by their cover of Harold Melvin's pop classic "If You Don't Know Me By Now", which became their second U.S. #1 hit and one of the biggest singles of the year internationally. Hucknall was by this time an international superstar, being photographed with models and Hollywood celebrities. This seemed to harm the band's coherence as a unit, with Hucknall declaring in 1991 that Simply Red was "essentially a solo project".
The band's popular career peaked later that year with the release of "Stars", which became the best-selling album for two years running in Europe and the UK (though notably had far less success in the US than their previous albums). "Stars" mixed Hucknall's anti-Thatcherite political lyrics with an easy-listening lounge-jazz sound, apparently to avoid alienation of their existing fanbase.
After touring and promoting "Stars" for two years, Simply Red returned in 1995 with "Fairground", a dance-influenced track featuring prominently a sample from Zki & Dobri's Goodmen project. A massive radio hit, "Fairground" went on to become the band’s first British #1, amid critical panning. Its parent album 'Life' sold more than a million copies in the UK alone, making it the fourth-biggest seller of the year. The band followed this up with cover heavy 'Blue' in 1998 and 'Love and the Russian Winter'. After 'Love and the Russian Winter' they left EastWest and Hucknall set up his own record label simplyred.com where he released "Home" in 2003, a mixture of mostly original songs and covers, including a version of The Stylistics song "You Make Me Feel Brand New". "Simplified" followed in 2005, mainly an album of stripped down versions of their Classic hits.
The single "Oh! What A Girl!" released in September 2006 from their album Stay, their 10th, released on 12 March 2007. This was preceded by the single “So Not Over You”, released on 5 March 2007. The third single from the album was the title song "Stay", released on 28 May 2007. The fourth and the last single of Simply Red single , "The World And You Tonight", was released in November 2007.
Mick Hucknall announced that the band were due to split in 2009, after a farewell tour.
"I've kind of decided that the 25 years is going to be enough, so I intend that the 2009 will be the last Simply Red tour."
"I've just recorded an album that is a tribute to Bobby Bland, a blues and R'n'B artist. It's a solo project and I've really enjoyed it so much that I feel the time has come now to just put a book-end to the story and the album Stay will be the last Simply Red studio album."
Holding Back The Years
Simply Red Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thinking of the fear I've had so long
When somebody hears
Listen to the fear that's gone
Strangled by the wishes of pater
Hoping for the arms of mater
Get to me the sooner or later, oh
Chance for me to escape from all I know
Holding back the tears
'Cause nothing here has grown
I've wasted all my tears
Wasted all those years
Nothing had the chance to be good
Nothing ever could, yeah, oh
I'll keep holding on
I'll keep holding on
I'll keep holding on
I'll keep holding on, so tight
Alright, oh now
Well, I've wasted all my tears
Wasted all of those years
And nothing had the chance to be good
'Cause nothing ever could, oh yeah
Oh
I'll keep holding on
I'll keep holding on
I'll keep holding on
I'll keep holding on
Holding
Holding
Holding
Holding, la-la-la, la, la-la
I said, ooh, yeah
That's all I have today
It's all I have to say
The song "Holding Back The Years" by Simply Red talks about the fear and pain of a lifetime of not being able to express oneself, and the struggle to let go of that pain. The opening lines "holding back the years, thinking of the fear I've had so long" describe the singer's long-standing fear of not being accepted for who they are. The reference to "somebody hears, listen to the fear that's gone" implies that the singer has finally found someone who can listen and help them let go of their fear.
The lines "strangled by the wishes of pater, hoping for the arms of mater" suggest a sense of suffocation and longing for parental affection. The singer feels trapped by their father's expectations and seeks comfort in their mother's embrace. The repetition of "holding back the years" and "holding back the tears" demonstrates the singer's struggle to let go of their pain and move forward in life. They have "wasted all [their] tears" and "wasted all those years" by holding onto their fear and not allowing anything good to happen in their life.
The final section of the song resolves with the singer repeating "I'll keep holding on" four times. While it may seem like holding onto pain is not a positive outcome, the repetition of this phrase shows that the singer recognizes it is not easy to let go, but they are committed to keep holding on until they find a way forward. The song ultimately ends with the singer's resolution to keep moving forward while still dealing with the pain they have held onto for so long.
Line by Line Meaning
Holding back the years
Suppressing emotions and memories that are painful and distressing
Thinking of the fear I've had so long
Reflecting on the long-standing anxiety and apprehension
When somebody hears
When someone listens and understands
Listen to the fear that's gone
Pay attention to and acknowledge the fear that has receded
Strangled by the wishes of pater
Suffocated by the desires and expectations of the father figure
Hoping for the arms of mater
Longing for the affection of the mother figure
Get to me the sooner or later, oh
Will affect me sooner or later
Chance for me to escape from all I know
Opportunity to break free from the familiar and restrictive circumstances
Holding back the tears
Suppressing emotional tears from flowing
'Cause nothing here has grown
Because nothing has progressed or developed in this environment
I've wasted all my tears
I have shed tears to no avail
Wasted all those years
I have been unproductive and unsuccessful all those years
Nothing had the chance to be good
There was no opportunity for anything to be positive or successful
Nothing ever could, yeah, oh
There was no possibility of improvement or success
I'll keep holding on
I will continue to persevere and endure
I'll keep holding on, so tight
I will hold on steadfastly and tenaciously
Well, I've wasted all my tears
I have wept without achieving any benefit
And nothing had the chance to be good
And nothing had the opportunity to develop into something positive
'Cause nothing ever could, oh yeah
As there was no possible way for things to improve
Holding
Holding on to my emotions
La-la-la, la, la-la
Expressing through humming
I said, ooh, yeah
An exclamation of affirmation and agreement
That's all I have today
This is all I have to say at present
It's all I have to say
This is everything I need to express currently
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mick Hucknall, Neil Moss
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@simplyred
Time ⌛ The new album from Simply Red. Out Now. Order your copy at https://simplyred.tmstor.es
@hagenholzmann
Who's still listening to this in 2023?
@marksnexus
I miss the 80s. Was a way different time then... ❤️
@christinacastaneda6319
This song never gets old.
@bernicemiller8412
As long as songs like this exist, I'LL KEEP HOLDIN ON!!!
@joaobrusalis6935
exactly
@jplangbehn
Still,,,
@rorog5892
Bernice Miller yes
@rawdonrabot6684
Bernice Miller
@drayduffy3121
Amen baby