The album also earned the artist a Grammy Award in March 1988 in the category of 'Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male'. In that same year, D'Arby earned three Soul Train Award nominations for 'Male Album of the Year' (from releasing 'Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby'), 'Male Single of the Year' (from releasing "Wishing Well"), and 'Best New Artist'. Receiving immense critical praise for a work that became RIAA certified as mutli-platinum, fans worried that he may have peaked too early, but they found D'Arby determined to continue down his own unique musical path.
D'Arby was born in Manhattan, New York, and he joined the army after leaving college, serving in Elvis Presley's old regiment in Germany. He was formally discharged by the army in 1983 after going absent without leave. While in Germany, he also worked with the group The Touch, releasing an album of material called 'Love On Time' in 1984. That album was later re-issued in 1989 as 'Early Works'.
D'Arby's follow-up studio album, 'Neither Fish Nor Flesh', came out in 1989. It sold over two million copies and earned praise from fans. Many critical reviews, however, were mixed and faulted D'Arby for what they saw as wandering about musically with a purpose, and the artist's acrimonious disputes with his record label grated on him. Note that the album is often alternatively known as 'Neither Fish Nor Flesh: A Soundtrack of Love, Faith, Hope & Destruction',
The expectations placed on D'Arby's shoulders from his early success caused him to undertake some needed soul searching. It took four more years and a move to Los Angeles, California until his next project, 1993's 'Symphony or Damn', was released. Also known as 'Symphony or Damn: Exploring the Tension Inside the Sweetness', the work proved somewhat of a commercial comeback and peaked at #4 on the U.K. album charts while receiving many supportive reviews.
D'Arby had moved into more and more of a musical vibe influenced by gritty rock, often inspired by blues. In 1995, D'Arby released 'Vibrator', which largely followed his previous work in its musical direction. Sadly, his commercial prospects were judged by many critics to be waning.
During the mid-90s, the relations between the artist and his label, Columbia Records, had became strained to the braking point, leading to the artist's departure in 1996. This was followed by four-years on Java Records, during which he recorded an album titled 'Terence Trent D'Arby's Solar Return'. Said work, however, was never released. In 2000, he bought the rights to his unreleased album and left the record company as well as Lippman Entertainment, which was his then-management-team.
In 1999, D'Arby was briefly hired by INXS to replace his friend, late vocalist Michael Hutchence, so the band could play at the opening of facilities for the Sydney Olympics.
In 2001 D'Arby changed his name to Sananda Francesco Maitreya. The same year, he settled in Munich, Germany, and started his own independent record label, Treehouse Pub. The year also marked his first album release in six years, Wildcard (the unreleased "Solar Return"). The album, first available for free through his website, was later released through a one-album distribution deal with Universal Music.
In 2002 Maitreya moved to Milan, Italy, and began working on his next project, Angels & Vampires - Volume I.
In July 2005 Maitreya started working on Angels & Vampires - Volume II, he released chapter after chapter online as soon he finished recording the songs. In April 2006 he released the finished album; again via his website.
Since 2006, Maitreya has released five more studio albums, alongside touring and the release of a few live albums and various live shows to his YouTube channel. In 2020, Maitreya was featured on The Avalanches' single Reflecting Light which would later be on their 'We Will Always Love You' album, later that same year.
Trivia:
D'Arby/Maitreya appeared in in the TV series "Shake, Rattle And Roll" where he played the part of Jackie Wilson. His music has also been included on several movie soundtracks, most notably 1991's Frankie and Johnny.
Holding On To You
Terence Trent D'Arby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A girl who burned my thoughts like kisses
She was down by street decree
She swore she'd pull my best years out of me
Fat painted lips on a live wire beauty
A tangerine girl with tambourine eyes
Her face was my favourite magazine
Her body was my favourite book to read
As all lovers must have thought-provoking fears
But holding on to you means letting go of pain
Means letting go of tears
Means letting go of rain
Means letting go of what's not real
Holding on to you, oh
I left the rough side for a seaside baby
A chamomile smile that pouts on cue, ha
For every moment I breathe her sigh
Her bosom contains my sweet alibi, yeah
In an emotional mist she breathes in fog
And breathes it out as garden flowers
Why me of all the tough-talking boys?
I guess she heard my heartbeat through the noise
They say that all poets must have an unrequited love, yes they do, ha
As all lovers must have thought-provoking fears
But holding on to you means letting go of pain
Means letting go of tears
Means letting go of rain
Holding on to you, ha
Means letting sorrows heal
Means letting go of what's not real, yeah
Holding on to you, yeah, woo-hoo!
Wah, heard some people say that all poets must have an unrequited love, ha
As all lovers I'm sure must have thought-provoking fears, yeah
But holding on to you means letting sorrows heal
Means letting go of what's not real
Holding on to you
I left the east coast for a west coast beauty
A woman who wet my thoughts like kisses
She was down, down by street decree
She swore she'd pull my best years out of me
Fat wet lips on a sea salt canvas
Goodbye Picasso, hello Dolly
The soil is fertile where her footsteps trod
She's my new religion, she's all I got
They say that all poets must have an unrequited love, yes they do, ha
As all lovers, I'm sure must have thought-provoking fears, yeah
But holding on to you means letting go of pain
Means letting go of tears
Means letting go of rain
Holding on to you, ha
Means letting sorrows heal
It means letting go
It means letting go of pain
It means letting go of pain, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, whoo
It means letting go of tears, it means letting go of rain
It means turning the page
And letting go of pain
Woo-hoo, yes it does, yes it does, yes it does
The lyrics of Terence Trent D'Arby's song Holding On To You are an ode to love, heartbreak and healing. The song speaks of the singer's journey of leaving behind his past and finding love in a new place. The lines "I left the east side for a west coast beauty" and "I left the rough side for a seaside baby" speak of his physical transformation and journey to find someone who could inspire him like the poets of old. The lyrics "Her face was my favourite magazine, Her body was my favourite book to read" describe the profound effect the woman has on him.
The singer goes on to talk about the fear of losing what he has found, but he reassures himself that holding onto this love means letting go of pain, tears, and anything that's not real. There is a suggestion that the singer has been hurt in the past, maybe through an unrequited love or a toxic relationship. This makes him appreciate the person he found even more, as they offer solace from his emotional turmoil. The lyrics, "She's my new religion, she's all I got" reinforce this idea.
In conclusion, Holding On To You is a song that speaks of the transformative power of love. The journey from heartbreak to healing is a universal experience, and Terence Trent D'Arby captures it eloquently in his lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I left the east side for a west coast beauty
I left my old life behind for a woman who captivates my thoughts and attention on the West Coast
A girl who burned my thoughts like kisses
This woman consumed my every thought in a passionate way
She was down by street decree
She had a sense of authority and confidence about her that felt magnetic
She swore she'd pull my best years out of me
She promised to bring out the best version of myself and push me to grow
Fat painted lips on a live wire beauty
She had full, enticing lips and a vibrant energy that was hard to ignore
A tangerine girl with tambourine eyes
She had a bright, orange aura and eyes that sparkled like a tambourine
Her face was my favourite magazine
I couldn't get enough of her beauty and was constantly enamored by her appearance
Her body was my favourite book to read
I was endlessly fascinated by the physicality of her being
They say that all poets must have an unrequited love
There's a common belief that poets are drawn to expressing love that's not always reciprocated
As all lovers must have thought-provoking fears
All people in love are bound to have fears that they must confront and overcome
But holding on to you means letting go of pain
Staying committed to this person will require me to let go of past pain and move forward
Means letting go of tears
It means I won't allow myself to dwell on sadness
Means letting go of rain
It means I won't let negativity cloud my vision or emotions
Means letting go of what's not real
It means not getting attached to things that aren't genuine
Holding on to you, oh
But holding onto this woman is worth it all
I left the rough side for a seaside baby
I left my difficult past for a woman who's as gentle and delicate as an ocean breeze
A chamomile smile that pouts on cue
She had a gentle, comforting smile and an attractive pout
For every moment I breathe her sigh
Every breath I take feels connected to hers in some way
Her bosom contains my sweet alibi, yeah
I could find peace and shelter in her warm embrace
In an emotional mist she breathes in fog
She has the ability to perceive emotions that I may not even be aware of
And breathes it out as garden flowers
She processes these emotions into something beautiful, like flowers in a garden
Why me of all the tough-talking boys?
I'm surprised this woman saw past my hard exterior and chose me
I guess she heard my heartbeat through the noise
Perhaps she could sense my true nature despite the rough exterior
Means letting sorrows heal
Letting go of past pain can help heal emotional wounds
Holding on to you, yeah, woo-hoo!
Holding onto this woman is worth every challenge and all the effort it takes
Wah, heard some people say that all poets must have an unrequited love
There's a belief that many poets end up writing about love that's not reciprocated or fulfilled
As all lovers I'm sure must have thought-provoking fears, yeah
All people in love will face fears and doubts about the relationship
Means letting sorrows heal
Releasing past pain can be a healing experience
It means letting go
It means not holding onto things that could hold me back in the future
It means turning the page
It means moving forward with a fresh start
And letting go of pain
And not allowing myself to be weighed down by negative experiences
Woo-hoo, yes it does, yes it does, yes it does
Moving on and letting go can be liberating and necessary for growth and happiness
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kolniður
I left the east side for a west coast beauty
A girl who burned my thoughts like kisses
She was down by street decree
She swore she'd pull my best years out of me
Fat painted lips on a live wire beauty
A tangerine girl with tambourine eyes
Her face was my favourite magazine
Her body was my favourite book to read
They say that all poets must have an unrequited love
As all lovers must have thought-provoking fears
But holding on to you means letting go of pain
Means letting go of tears
Means letting go of rain
Means letting go of what's not real
Holding on to you, oh
I left the rough side for a seaside baby
A chamomile smile that pouts on cue, ha
For every moment I breathe her sigh
Her bosom contains my sweet alibi, yeah!
In an emotional mist she breathes in fog
And breathes it out as garden flowers
Why me of all the tough-talking boys?
I guess she heard my heartbeat through the noise
They say that all poets must have an unrequited love, yes they do, ha
As all lovers must have thought-provoking fears
But holding on to you means letting go of pain
Means letting go of tears
Means letting go of rain
Holding on to you, ha
Means letting sorrows heal
Means letting go of what's not real, yeah!
Holding on to you, yeah!
Woo-hoo!
Wah, heard some people say that all poets must have an unrequited love, ha
As all lovers I'm sure must have thought-provoking fears, yeah!
But holding on to you means letting sorrows heal
Means letting go of what's not real
Holding on to you
I left the east coast for a west coast beauty
A woman who read my thoughts like kisses
She was down, down by street decree
She swore she'd pull my best years out of me
Fat wet lips on a sea salt canvas
Goodbye Picasso, hello Dolly
The soil is fertile where her footsteps trod
She's my new religion, she's all I got
They say that all poets must have an unrequited love, yes they do, ha
As all lovers, I'm sure must have thought-provoking fears, yeah!
But holding on to you means letting go of pain
Means letting go of tears
Means letting go of rain
Holding on to you, ha
Means letting sorrows heal
It means letting go
It means letting go of pain
It means letting go of pain, yeah!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, whoo
It means letting go of tears, it means letting go of rain
It means turning the page
And letting go of pain
Woo-hoo, yes it does, yes it does, yes it does
Minto Smith
Just found out about this guy while at my parents , can't believe they didn't tell me about this guys ,beautiful powerful voice ,the weeknd who lol
capesocialist
parents know stuff
Jerry Jordan
Yes it is!!!!!!!passionate
Darren Morrell
He's so good it's unreal,
Patrick Nepe
He changed his name Santander matraya
NandãoXJ6
Está música.me.marcou em 1996 quando eu amava uma.menina e fiquei com ela uma.noite dois dias depois ela.morreu em.um.acidente de moto na noite que nós ficamos juntos estava passando está música eu me.lembro que fiquei até tonto com o beijo tão gostoso da boca dela depois fiquei muito triste com a notícia e até hoje choro ao escutar está música
A Mason
It’s 2022 and he is one of the most underrated singers/ performers we’ve had and he definitely didn’t get a lot of praise from the R&B world. This man evokes so much emotion in this song
Cynthia Johnson
I echo your sentiments!! Shame, he should be bigger!
galasoul
Never been underated.
galasoul
Never been underated.