Frequent releases during the mid-60s included many cover versions of popular songs, as well as a few group-penned hits and many songs written especially for them by professional songwriters.
The Hollies were formed in 1962 in Lancashire, England. By 1965,the group had been established as one of Britain's pre-eminent singles bands. As part of the British Invasion, they enjoyed huge chart success in many countries in the mid-Sixties, releasing a string of classic harmony-pop hits including Bus Stop I'm Alive, a UK No. 1, I Can't Let Go, Stop Stop Stop, Carrie Anne, On A Carousel, Look Through Any Window, and Jennifer Eccles.
In 1972, the hit Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress reached #2 in the US. Their last mega hit was He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, hitting #1 in the UK in 1988 (albeit 19 years after its first release).
The band are noted for their longevity, with their 2006 tour chalking up 45 years. Despite numerous changes in line-up, Tony Hicks & Bobby Elliott have been with the band almost from its inception.
Lead singer Allan Clarke left The Hollies in 1971, though he rejoined the band at later times. He was eventually replaced by Carl Wayne, ex lead singer of The Move, who passed away in 2004. Wayne was replaced by Peter Howarth. The 2007 line up is, Ian Parker on keyboards, Ray Stiles (Ex Mud, remember 'Tiger Feet') on bass guitar and Alan Coates on guitar and vocals by Steve Lauri.
Original bass player Eric Haydock died in January 2018.
The Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2010.
Allan Clarke (vocals, 1962-71, 1973-99), Graham Nash (guitar, vocals, 1962-68, 1983), Eric Haydock (bass, 1962-66), Vick Farrell (guitar, 1962), Don Rathbone (drums, 1962-63), Tony Hicks (guitar, banjo, mandolin, electric sitar, vocals, 1963-present), Bobby Elliott (drums, percussion, 1963-present), Bernie Calvert (bass, 1966-81), Terry Sylvester (guitar, vocals, 1969-81), Mikael Rickfors (vocals, 1971-73), Denis Haines (bass, 1981-86), Alan Coates (guitar, 1981-2004), Ray Stiles (bass, vocals, 1986-present), Ian Parker (keyboards, vocals, 1991-present), Carl Wayne (vocals, 2000-04), Peter Howarth (vocals, acoustic guitar, 2004-present), Steve Lauri (guitar, vocals, 2004-present)
I Canยดt Let Go
The Hollies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feel so bad baby
Oh, it hurts me
When I think of how you love and desert me
I'm the broken-hearted toy you play with
You got me goin'
I can't let go
And I want you baby
I gotta have all your love
I can't let go
Though I'm just one of your lovers
And I know there are so many others
You do something strange to me, baby
You got me goin'
I need you baby
I can't let go
And I want you baby
I gotta have all your love
I can't let go
Oh, I tried and I tried but I can't say good-bye
I know that it's wrong and I should be so strong
But the thought of you gone
Makes me want to hold on
You got me goin'
I need you baby
I can't let go
And I want you baby
I gotta have all your love
I can't let go
You got me goin'
I need you baby
I can't let go
And I want you baby
I gotta have all your love
I can't let go
I can't let go
I can't let go
The Hollies's song "I Can't Let Go" is a tale of unrequited love and heartbreak. The lyrics describe a person who is unable to move on from a former lover. The persona of the song is lamenting over the end of a relationship, unable to accept that it's over. The lyrics express the sadness and pain felt by the persona as they remember the love they shared with their former lover. They feel hurt when they think of how the love they shared was not enough, and how the lover left them with a broken heart. Despite knowing that they are just one of their lover's many conquests, the persona still yearns for their love.
The lyrics convey a feeling of helplessness and desperation, as the persona is unable to let go of their former lover. They know they should be strong and move on, but they cannot bring themselves to do it. The chorus of the song, "You got me goin', I need you baby, I can't let go, And I want you baby, I gotta have all your love, I can't let go" highlights the persona's attachment to their former lover and their inability to break free. They are driven by their desire for love and affection.
Overall, "I Can't Let Go" is a powerfully emotional song that explores the many complexities of love, heartbreak, and desire. It is a reminder that sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we can't force ourselves to let go of the people we love.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I tried and I tried but I can't say good-bye
Even though I have tried, it is impossible for me to say goodbye to you.
Feel so bad baby
I feel terrible, darling.
Oh, it hurts me
It pains me deeply.
When I think of how you love and desert me
When I recall how you love me one moment and then abandon me the next.
I'm the broken-hearted toy you play with
I am the heartbroken plaything that you manipulate.
You got me goin'
You have me under your spell.
I need you baby
I crave your presence, darling.
I can't let go
It's impossible for me to move on from you.
And I want you baby
Besides needing you, I also desire your love.
I gotta have all your love
I require all of your affection.
Though I'm just one of your lovers
Even though I am aware of being one of many you love.
And I know there are so many others
I acknowledge that there are many more people you love.
You do something strange to me, baby
Darling, you instigate some peculiar sensations in me.
I know that it's wrong and I should be so strong
I am aware that it's incorrect, and I mustn't be weak.
But the thought of you gone
However, the notion of you leaving me.
Makes me want to hold on
Compels me to cling to you.
I can't let go
I can't move on.
You got me goin'
You have my emotions inflamed.
I need you baby
I require your presence, darling.
I can't let go
I can't dislodge my feelings for you.
And I want you baby
Moreover, I covet your love.
I gotta have all your love
It is imperative that I obtain all of your affection.
I can't let go
I am unable to break free from my emotions.
I can't let go
I can't release myself from this emotional attachment.
I can't let go
I can't detach from you.
Writer(s): Chip Taylor, Al Gorgoni
Contributed by Alice Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
sauquoit13456
On this day in 1966 {March 17th} the Hollies "I Can't Let Go" peaked at #2* {for 3 weeks} the the United Kingdom's Official Top 50 Singles chart, the three weeks it was at #2, the #1 record for those three weeks was "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" by the Walker Brothers...
"I Can't Let Go" reached #42 on Billboard's Top 100 chart...
Between 1963 and 1993 the Manchester, England band had thirty three records on the UK Singles chart, eighteen made the Top 10 with two reaching #1, "I'm Alive" for three non-consecutive weeks in June of 1965 and "He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother" for two weeks in September of 1988...
* "I Can't Let Go" was the Hollies' second of four of their records to peak at #2, their three other #2 records were "Just On e Look" {1964}, "Stop Stop Stop" {1966}, and "The Air That I Breathe" {1974}...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the UK Singles' Top 10 on March 17th, 1966:
At #3. "Sha La La La Lee" by the Small Faces
#4. "Groovy Kind of Love" by the Mindbenders
#5. "Barbara Ann" by the Beach Boys
#6. "Shapes of Things" by the Yardbirds
#7. "Backstage" by Gene Pitney
#8. "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" by the Kinks
#9. "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" by Nancy Sinatra
#10. "Make The World Go Away" by Eddy Arnold
Marie Blue
In career, The Hollies authored a fair part of their repertoire, but a great many hits were penned by outsiders. โI Canโt Let Goโ, for instance, was composed by Al Gorgoni and Chip Taylor*.
โI Canโt Let Goโ was originally taped in 1965 by a 19 year old Evie Sands. Unfortunately, it didnโt get its fair share of airplay.
In 1966, The Hollies covered it with much success. The rock and pop band always had an uncanny ability to recognize a good song and put their own singular twist onto it by giving it a British beat feel with soaring harmonies.
Linda Ronstadt - the First Lady of Rock - recorded it in 1980. Her version was remarkably true to the Holliesโ interpretation. She used double-tracking to duet with herself on the chorus.
Through the years, โI Canโt Let Goโ proved to be an all-around blue-eyed soul standardโโค๏ธโ๐ฉน๐ถโค๏ธโ๐ฉน
May you rest in peace, Eric John Haddock (1943 - 2019)โฆ ๐น
* Chip Taylor, nรฉ James Wesley Voight, is actor Jon Voightโs brother, thus uncle to actress Angelina Jolie.
GrtSatan
Tony Hicks is the guitar hero that never was. Absolutely brilliant.
Harrisonianne
60s Johnny Marr
flimbambo
Like Brian Jones he favoured a Vox (although not on this) which was an unusual choice at the time. Great backing vocalist as well
Derek Whyle
The very best of that era. No other pop group of the early/ mid 60โs had any guitarist to beat him
Turbo Soggy
flimbambo Unusual in the 60s? The Beatles used them earlier on.
Cade
flimbambo since when was the vox unusual in the 60s the Beatles used them lmao
Anna Seireklidou
One of the greatest bands of the 60s. Thank you Hollies
antoniorobert1204@gmailcom
Good morning Anna, how are you doing today, I hope you are fine over there?
Ian McGuiness
100 per cent agree, great musicians, Tony Hicks what a virtuoso.
Tom Zeeh
My favorite Hollies' song. Turn up that volume whenever you play it. That Hicks' guitar, those vocals, that drumming - LIVE! Wow. And they looked cool, too. What more do you want?