The group was founded in 1969 by Russell Knighton at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the group was called the Macalester College Black Voices. It was in 1971 when current director Gary Hines took leadership over the ensemble, and the group name was officially changed to Sounds of Blackness.
The chief lead singer of the group was Ann Nesby until 1995 when Nesby left the group to pursue a solo career. The group continues to perform internationally. The group performed the original songs for the 1999 Disney animated short John Henry (based on the folklore character) as part of Disney's American Legends, the short was re-released in 2015 as part of the Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection. The original songs were written by Gary Hines and Billy Steele, with a score by Stephen James Taylor
The group has received three Grammy Awards, four Stellar Awards, one Emmy nomination, the International Time for Peace Award, the International Dance Music Award, five NAACP Image Award nominations and 1 NAACP Image Award.
Sounds of Blackness's "Time For Love" was nominated for the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards for R&B Song of the year.
Hold On
Sounds Of Blackness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, oh yeah, uh
Here's we go y'all
Singin' a little message out
To those of y'all who feel like you're strugglin', uh
(Mmh, yeah)
It's a simple song
Mmh, uh, yeah
Yesterday, a man step to me
He said, "How can you smile
When your world is crumbling down?" I said
"Here's my secret, when I wanna cry
I take a look around and I see that I'm getting by"
And I hold on (hold on)
Change is coming (change is coming)
Hold on (hold on)
Don't you worry (don't worry 'bout a thing)
Hold on (hold on)
You can make it (you can make it)
Hold on (hold on)
Everything (everything will be alright)
Some people like to worry
Some people like hide
Some people like to run away
From the pain inside
Now it's your business
Do whatever you wanna do
But if it don't work out
Here's what you oughta do
Now just hold on (hold on)
Change is coming (change is coming)
Hold on (hold on)
Don't worry (don't worry 'bout a thing)
Hold on (hold on)
You can make it (you can make it)
Hold on (hold on)
Everything (everything will be alright)
Is gonna be alright
When the troubles of life weigh you down
Just lift your head up (yeah)
(Yeah) yeah yeah (yeah, yeah)
When the love you seek (you seek) is hard to find (ooh)
Don't give up, just be strong, keep the faith
And hold on (hold on)
Change is coming (change is coming)
Hold on (hold on)
Everything (don't worry 'bout a thing)
Is gonna be alright
(Hold on)
Said you can make it (you can make it)
Hold on (hold on)
Everything, everything, everything (everything will be alright)
Is gonna be alright
Huh, here's a little simple song, y'all
When the trouble seem like they just won't go away
Friends let you down, things gettin' bounced around
Here's a little lullaby we like to sing
And it goes a little like this, uh come on, listen
La la (la la)
La la (la la)
La la (la la)
La la (la la), come on y'all
La la (la la)
La la (la la)
La la (la la)
La la (la la)
Now hold on (hold on)
Your change is coming (change is coming)
Hold on (hold on)
Don't you worry (don't worry 'bout a thing)
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Hold on (hold on)
I said you can make it (you can make it)
Hold on (hold on)
Everything (everything will be alright)
Everything is gonna be alright
(Hold on)
Change is coming (change is coming)
Hold on (hold on)
(Don't worry 'bout a thing) Hey hey
Hold on (hold on)
You can make it (you can make it)
(Hold on)
Everything (everything will be alright)
Everything, everything gonna be alright
(La la) Uh
(La la) la la
(La la) la la
(La la)
When you're feeling down (la la)
Nobody's around (la la)
Just sing this song (la la)
Sounds of Blackness's song Hold On is a motivating and uplifting song that seeks to offer hope to those who feel like they are struggling in life. The song begins with a catchy musical intro and sets the tone for a message of encouragement. The lyrics start with a man approaching the singer and asking how they can smile when their world is falling apart. In response, the singer shares their secret, which is to look around and realize that they are getting by. These lines suggest that the singer has found the strength to endure, even when life feels like a struggle.
The chorus of the song encourages listeners to hold on because change is coming, and everything is going to be all right. The bridge reminds listeners that when life's troubles weigh them down, they should lift their heads up and keep the faith. The song ends with a lullaby-like melody that repeats the chorus, encouraging listeners to continue holding on and reassuring them that they can make it.
Hold On has a timeless message that applies to people of all ages and backgrounds. It offers listeners hope and reassurance, reminding them that there is always a reason to hold on and keep going. The lyrics connect with the listener by acknowledging that life can be challenging, but change is possible, and things will get better with time.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday, a man step to me
The singer tells the story of a man approaching him, asking how he can smile despite facing problems in life.
"How can you smile
When your world is crumbling down?" I said
The man asked the singer how he can be happy when everything around him is falling apart. The singer replied by sharing his secret.
"Here's my secret, when I wanna cry
I take a look around and I see that I'm getting by"
The singer's secret to staying happy when facing problems is by looking at how the situation is better than it could have been.
Hold on (hold on)
Change is coming (change is coming)
Hold on (hold on)
Don't you worry (don't worry 'bout a thing)
The chorus calls for people to hold on and keep going, reminding them that things will change for the better in due time.
Some people like to worry
Some people like hide
Some people like to run away
From the pain inside
The song acknowledges that different people deal with problems in their own ways โ some worry, some hide, and some choose to run away from their problems.
"But if it don't work out
Here's what you oughta do"
Despite acknowledging that people cope with problems differently, the singer suggests that if their method does not work, they should try a different approach.
When the troubles of life weigh you down
Just lift your head up (yeah)
When life gets tough, the best way to get through it is to keep your head up and not let it weigh you down.
And hold on (hold on)
Change is coming (change is coming)
Hold on (hold on)
Everything (don't worry 'bout a thing)
Is gonna be alright
The chorus repeats, reassuring the listener that they can make it through their problems and that everything will be alright in the end.
Here's a little lullaby we like to sing
And it goes a little like this, uh come on, listen
The singer introduces the song as a lullaby that they like to sing to comfort themselves and others during tough times.
When you're feeling down (la la)
Nobody's around (la la)
Just sing this song (la la)
The song ends by encouraging listeners to sing the song to themselves when feeling down and alone.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Willie James Clarke, Clarence Henry Reid, Levi Jr Seacer, Billy O'dell Steele, Larry Troutman, Roger Troutman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lindaguthrie5320
HALLELUJAH!
I LOVE THIS SONG...WE SING THIS AT OUR CHURCH+
Gets me to moving and praising GOD...
STOMP SATAN IN THE GROUND!!!!!!!!!!!
HOLD ON'
A CHANGE IS COMIN'
EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT!
EXERCISE THAT FAITH GODS PEOPLE+
WE ARE GONNA MAKE IT
GODS GOT YA*
JUST CALL ON JESUS IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR!
@robertfalani8203
Whoโs still jamming this in 2024 ๐
@katherinehearn2217
I am always
@klyetruman7285
Yes indeed, we're here!
@jamalhakim399
BR aqui curtindo esse som.
@D_A_Marv
Had no idea about until I heard it on IG and had to search!
@user-cx9xy5hy5p
Yessss
@katonyasmyth4639
I just heard this in the Holy Spirit "hold on, change is coming". Praise God!! โค๏ธ๐๐๐ฅ
@SONJASAVEDBYGRACE
Yes ๐๐ฝ
@teedy1boy
Trust The Spirit. Stay focused on the word of truth.
@Tawanna-ps4zy
Hey everyone k in some help me I need god๐ข