∎ The Philadelphia band's first album on A&M, self entitled THE REDS, produced by David Kershenbaum, showed the band's impressive sound — a blend of Rick Shaffer's guitar and Bruce Cohen's keyboards into an interestingly textured drone, short guitar and keyboard figures, rising then disappearing back into the drone, while Shaffer's voice provides the punch and definition for their overall sound. The album was supported with live appearances with The Police, Joe Jackson, Blondie, The Ramones, The Psychedelic Furs, and Public Image. An EP, GREEN WITH ENVY, followed featuring The Doors song, "Break On Through," which suggests some of the band's roots. (Universal Music digitally re-released The Reds, and Green With Envy, August 2012.) In 1980 A&M released a compilation album, Propaganda, that included tracks from The Reds, The Police, Joe Jackson, The Granati Bros, Bobby Henry, Shrink, David Kubinec, and Squeeze.
∎ After leaving A&M, The Reds® went forward with two indie albums, STRONGER SILENCE and FATAL SLIDE (Stony Plain/RCA), that continued The Reds® sound, receiving critical acclaim internationally. They next recorded a tense and powerful album for Sire/WB entitled, SHAKE APPEAL, produced by Mike Thorne (Blur, Soft Cell, Wire). This forcible record led the band to work with director/producer, Michael Mann. Mann incorporated numerous songs by The Reds® into episodes of Miami Vice, then hired Shaffer and Cohen to write songs and score for two motion pictures, Band Of The Hand (Tri-Star) and Manhunter (De Laurentiis), based on the novel "Red Dragon." Soundtrack albums from both films were released on MCA, a Manhunter CD, with an added Reds® track, “Jogger’s Stakeout”, was released by Intrada Records (2010), and Universal Music digitally released both albums (2012).
∎ During this time, solo projects for Cohen were writing score for the productions, "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" and "Down The Road" at Philadelphia's Walnut Theatre; "The Speckled Band," starring Quentin Crisp, and Charles Busch' play, "Vampire Lesbians Of Sodom" for NYC's Pulse Theatre Company; and a forty minute electronic film noir piece, "Goodbye Johnny Staccato." While solo projects for Shaffer included recording guitar tracks on a Marianne Faithfull album (Island); Hilly Kristal's, "Mad Mordechai" (Stereo Society); Peter Murphy's, "Holy Smoke" (Beggars Banquet/BMG); and Marc Almond's, "Fantastic Star" (Some Bizarre/Mercury). While Shaffer wrote and recorded, "Looking For Right," for director Michael Mann"s film, "Collateral."
∎ The Reds® next album, CRY TOMORROW reunited them with British producer Mike Thorne. It captures the driving intensity of earlier albums and the ambient, atmospheric feel from their film scores, resulting in a stark, surreal album, with a sense of mood and mystery. The pulsing opening track, "Terror In My Heart," was featured in the film, "Nightmare On Elm Street 2" (New Line), directed by Jack Sholder, along with a searing non-stop groove of the Stones' "Gimme Shelter."
∎ In 2007, FUGITIVES FROM THE LAUGHING HOUSE was written and produced by The Reds®. The album is a straight forward raw nerve reflection of life in America. The Reds® February 2009 release, EARLY NOTHING, was also written and produced by Shaffer and Cohen. The album has a hypnotic quality, that leaves the listener free to let their subconscious play itself out, no matter where it goes. With the release of Early Nothing, The Reds®, shamans of dark, brooding, loud rock continued to explore and define their sound.
∎ At this point in time, both Shaffer and Cohen began releasing solo albums. Bruce released ONE BC in 2009, and Rick released NECESSARY ILLUSION in 2010. Although they have been recording separately, a new album by The Reds is still a possibility as soon as Shaffer and Cohen can be in the same location at the same time. See their entire discography below.
■ PLEASE NOTE: The Reds® is a Registered Trademark, with the first use date of March 17, 1977.
THE REDS® OFFICIAL WEBSITE is TarockMusic.com
DISCOGRAPHY
∎ RICK SHAFFER
2017 • STOLEN MOMENTS (Tarock Music #TM-CD15)
2016 • OUTSIDE OF TIME (Tarock Music #TM-CD13)
2015 • JITTERBUG SHAKE (Tarock Music #TM-CD11)
2014 • HARD TIMES SIXTY — Single (Tarock Music)
2014 • LINK — Single (Tarock Music)
2014 • MISADVENTURE (Tarock Music #TM-CD10)
2013 • STACKED DECK (Tarock Music #TM-CD9)
2012 • IDIOT FLATS (Tarock Music #TM-CD8)
2011 • HIDDEN CHARMS (Tarock Music #TM-CD6)
2010 • NECESSARY ILLUSION (Tarock Music #TM-CD5)
1971 • JUST THE BEGINNING — RICK SHAFFER & FREIGHT TRAIN (Fly By Night #LPFBN1001
∎ BRUCE COHEN
2017 • FOUR BC (Tarock Music #TM-CD14)
2015 • THREE BC — IN A TRANCE (Tarock Music #TM-CD12)
2014 • BIG FUN 3 — FADEOUT Bruce Cohen, Peter ”Babe” Lucas, Tony Foster (RopeADope #N/A)
2013 • BIG FUN 3.2 — Bruce Cohen, Peter ”Babe” Lucas, Tony Foster (RopeADope #N/A)
2011 • TWO BC (Tarock Music #TM-CD7)
2010 • BIG FUN 3 — Bruce Cohen, Rik Myers, Brandon Cruz (RopeADope #N/A)
2009 • ONE BC (Tarock Music #TM-CD4)
∎ THE REDS®
2009 • EARLY NOTHING (Tarock Music #TM-CD3)
2007 • FUGITIVES FROM THE LAUGHING HOUSE (Tarock Music #TM-CD2)
2001 • CRY TOMORROW (Stereo Society #SS004)
1992 • CRY TOMORROW (Tarock Music #TM-CD1)
1986 • MANHUNTER — FILM SOUNDTRACK (MCA #6182)
1986 • BAND OF THE HAND — FILM SOUNDTRACK (MCA #6167)
1986 • WAITING FOR YOU — SINGLE (Music Action - France #N/A)
1985 • SHAKE APPEAL (Music Action - France #MAP9009)
1984 • SHAKE APPEAL (Sire/Warner Bros #21-04261)
1983 • FATAL SLIDE (Helter Skelter - Italy #HS93CD26)
1982 • FATAL SLIDE (Stony Plain - Canada #SPL10481981)
1981 • STRONGER SILENCE (Helter Skelter - Italy #HS93CD26)
1981 • STRONGER SILENCE (Stony Plain - Canada #SPL1037)
1981 • STRONGER SILENCE (Kingdom - UK #KVL90051981)
1981 • THE DANGER / DO YOU PLAY THE GAME — SINGLE (Kingdom - UK #KV8019)
1981 • STRONGER SILENCE — EP (Ambition #AM1981)
1980 • PROPAGANDA (A&M #SP4786)
1979 • GREEN WITH ENVY — EP (A&M #SP3301)
1979 • WHATCHA′ DOIN' TO ME — SINGLE (A&M #N/A)
1979 • WHATCHA′ DOIN' TO ME — GREEN VINYL (A&M - UK #N/A)
1979 • JOEY / VICTIMS — SINGLE (A&M #SP3178)
1979 • THE REDS — GREEN VINYL (A&M #SP4772)
1979 • SELF REDUCTION / VICTIMS — SINGLE (EKE #N/A)
1977 • JOEY / AUTOMATIC BOY — SINGLE (Go Go #00011971)
Hold On
The Reds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the waves are crashing
The only place I've ever known
Now the future has me
I see the fire in the sky
See it all around me
I said the past is dead
Said I won't give up until I see the sun
Hold me now 'til the fear is leaving
I am barely breathing
Waking up and letting go
To the sound of angels
Am I alive or just a ghost?
Haunted by my sorrows
Hope is slipping through my hands
Gravity is taking hold
I said I'm not afraid that I am brave enough
I will not give up until I see the sun
Hold me now 'til the fear is leaving
I am barely breathing
Crying out
These tired wings are falling
I need you to catch me
As I burn, as I break
I can't take it anymore
I return to the place
Where the water covers over everything
Rescue me somehow
Hold me now 'til the fear is leaving
I am barely breathing
Crying out
These tired wings are falling
I need you to catch me
Hold me now 'til the fear is leaving
I am barely breathing
The Reds’ song "Hold On" is a heartfelt and emotional track about the endless struggles we face in life and the resilience we find within ourselves to hold onto hope and push through them. The song begins with the singer's yearning for the familiar sights and sounds of home, with the waves in the background serving as a reminder of the only haven they've ever known. However, as the story progresses, the singer realizes that the future is imminent and looming over them, and the past is but a memory. They state that they will not give up until they bask in the warmth of the sun.
The pre-chorus is a cry for help that is almost desperate, as the singer confesses that they are barely holding on to the last remnants of hope, gasping for breath with every passing moment. They ask to be held, and promise to keep fighting until the day they can fully exhale the fear that has gripped them tightly for so long. The chorus is a repetition of the plea to be held and supported, as the singer acknowledges that their wings are too tired to fly on alone. They need help to soar, and to be lifted to a safe and loving place.
The second verse highlights the inevitability of loss and the inescapable grip of gravity pulling us down. However, the singer confidently states that they are not afraid, and that they have the tenacity and courage to face any obstacle that may come their way. They plead for a rescue, a savior who can guide them back to safety when they are burning, breaking, and unable to withstand the pain. Throughout the entire song, there is a sense of surrender to a higher power, a faith that there is indeed something out there that can save us from the terrors of the world. The singer's journey may be tough, but they have the will and the perseverance to hold on, and that's anything but a mere speck of hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Fall asleep to dreams of home
Where the waves are crashing
The only place I've ever known
Now the future has me
I feel nostalgic when I dream about home, where the sound of the waves crashing is my sole memory. However, the future is now uncertain, and I'm not sure what's coming next.
I see the fire in the sky
See it all around me
I said the past is dead
The life I had is gone
It feels like everything is literally on fire, and I can't escape this situation. The past is behind me, and I can't go back to the life I once had.
Said I won't give up until I see the sun
Despite all of this, I won't give up until I see a brighter, more hopeful future.
Hold me now 'til the fear is leaving
I am barely breathing
I need someone to hold me and comfort me until I start to feel less afraid. Right now, I feel like I can barely breathe.
Waking up and letting go
To the sound of angels
Am I alive or just a ghost?
Haunted by my sorrows
I'm starting to feel like I'm waking up and finally letting go of the past. However, I'm still questioning whether or not I'm really alive, or if I'm just going through the motions while being haunted by my own sorrows.
Hope is slipping through my hands
Gravity is taking hold
It feels like I'm losing hope and control over my life. It's like gravity is pulling me down, and I can't escape it.
I said I'm not afraid that I am brave enough
I will not give up until I see the sun
I'm trying my best to be brave and not let my fear control me. I'm determined to keep going until I see a more positive future.
Crying out
These tired wings are falling
I need you to catch me
I'm desperate for someone to help me and catch me when I feel like I'm falling apart.
As I burn, as I break
I can't take it anymore
I return to the place
Where the water covers over everything
Rescue me somehow
I feel like I'm on the verge of completely breaking down, and I can't handle it anymore. I'm trying to find solace in a place where everything is covered by water, but I still need someone to rescue me and help me get through this.
Hold me now 'til the fear is leaving
I am barely breathing
Once again, I'm asking for someone to hold me and comfort me until I start to feel less afraid. Right now, even breathing feels like a struggle.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ANTHONY J ARMSTRONG, DAVID HODGES, JASEN RAUCH, JOSEPH ROBERT RICKARD, MIKE BARNES, RANDY ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind