Vonda Shepard was born in New York but her family relocated to California when she was fairly young. She played piano from an early age. Her father is Richmond Shepard, a mime and improv actor. Vonda has three sisters: Rosetta, Luana, and Brianna. Her mother left the family when Vonda was ten, and her father raised the four girls by himself.
After performing as a backing singer for many years she was eventually given her own recording contract. Shepard's first chart appearance was in 1987 when she recorded a duet with Dan Hill entitled 'Can't We Try'. She released her first self-titled album in 1989 with little fanfare. The album did yield one chart single, Don't Cry Ilene, a mid-tempo, piano-driven jazz-RnB flavored song dealing with the break-up of a relationship between a black woman and a white man, arising from adult peer pressure. The track is sung from the perspective of the woman's white female friend, who harbors a desire to have the man for herself, but keeps her distance out of respect for her friend. The song peaked at 17 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary chart and stayed on the charts for 12 weeks.
After her third album, Shepard was signed up to appear on Ally McBeal after being spotted by the show's creator David E Kelley. While on the show she recorded two full soundtrack albums and was featured on two other Ally McBeal compilations. The songs Shepard recorded for Ally McBeal soundtrack albums were mainly covers of old songs with lyrics that paralleled what was happening in the title character's life onscreen. Since appearing in the show, Shepard has released two more studio albums and a live album.
Shepard is married to music producer Mitchell Froom and they had their first child, Jack Froom, on 15 April 2006.
Hold Out
Vonda Shepard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I were I wouldn't talk about it
I'm homesick for your love
'Cause I know I can't live without it
If you need a guarantee I'm gonna love you everyday
Say no more about it because you've got it in every way
I'm gonna hold out one more day
I won't let her take you away
I'm gonna hold out somehow someway
I don't want to see the day when you say goodbye
I wish I could get you out of my system
I say in my mind but my heart won't listen
I need a fix or two
'Cause I'm in the habit of you
And if a guarantee is what you need
To keep me by your side
Say no more about it
Because my love I just can't hide
[Chorus]
I'm gonna hold out one more day
I won't let her take you away
I'm gonna hold out somehow someway
I don't want to see the day when you say...
All you need in your life
All you need in your heart
All you need from a friend
Is love
All you need from your mother
All you need from your lover
All wee need from another
Is love
I'm gonna hold out one more day
I won't let her take you away
I'm gonna hold out somehow someway
I don't want to see the day when you say goodbye
[Chorus]
In "Hold Out," Vonda Shepard sings about her deep love for someone and her fear of losing them to someone else. The lyrics reveal her vulnerability and desperation as she pleads for them to stay with her. She knows that she cannot live without their love, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to keep them by her side.
The opening lyrics, "I know that I'm not crazy, if I were I wouldn't talk about it," suggest that there may be some doubt or questioning of her sanity by others, but she is sure of her feelings and is not afraid to express them. The lines "I'm homesick for your love, 'Cause I know I can't live without it" emphasize the depth of her longing and how much their love means to her.
She offers a guarantee of her love, promising to love them every day and in every way. The repetition of the phrase "Say no more about it" indicates her confidence in her ability to love and her commitment to the relationship.
Overall, "Hold Out" is a heartfelt and honest expression of love and the lengths one will go to hold onto it.
Line by Line Meaning
I know that I'm not crazy
I am aware that I am not mentally unstable
If I were I wouldn't talk about it
I would not reveal my state of mind if I was mentally unstable
I'm homesick for your love
I have an intense longing and desire for your affection
'Cause I know I can't live without it
I cannot survive or function without your love
If you need a guarantee I'm gonna love you everyday
If you require assurance that I will love you each and every day
Say no more about it because you've got it in every way
There is no need to say or ask for anything else because I already provide love in every possible way
I'm gonna hold out one more day
I will resist the temptation of giving up for another day
I won't let her take you away
I will protect our love from anyone who tries to separate us
I'm gonna hold out somehow someway
I will find a way to hold on and persevere
I don't want to see the day when you say goodbye
I do not desire to witness the moment when you leave me
I wish I could get you out of my system
I desire to remove and eliminate you from my thoughts and emotions
I say in my mind but my heart won't listen
I attempt to convince myself mentally, but my emotions resist and disobey
I need a fix or two
I require a couple doses or instances of affection from you
'Cause I'm in the habit of you
Because I have formed a routine or dependency upon your presence and love
And if a guarantee is what you need
If you desire an assurance
To keep me by your side
To maintain my proximity and companionship
Because my love I just can't hide
It is impossible to conceal or suppress the strength of my love for you
All you need in your life
What is essential in your existence
All you need in your heart
What is necessary for your emotions and feelings
All you need from a friend
What is sufficient and satisfying from a companion or confidant
Is love
Is nothing but love
All you need from your mother
What is adequate and fulfilling from a parent, especially a mother
All you need from your lover
What is satisfactory and complete from your significant other
All wee need from another
All we require from someone else
I don't want to see the day when you say goodbye
I do not desire to witness the moment when you leave me
I'm gonna hold out one more day
I will resist the temptation of giving up for another day
I won't let her take you away
I will protect our love from anyone who tries to separate us
I'm gonna hold out somehow someway
I will find a way to hold on and persevere
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: VONDA SHEPARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind