Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet_Wet_Wet
Studio albums
Popped In Souled Out (1987)
The Memphis Sessions (1988)
Holding Back the River (1989)
High on the Happy Side (1992)
Cloak & Dagger (1992)
Picture This (1995)
10 (1997)
Timeless (2007)
The Journey (2021)
Hold Back The River
Wet Wet Wet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listen to what I've got to say
How your head's went away
Only here for a day
And that grave I just made
Is for me when I get paid
Won't you wait a while
Sometimes people don't want to say
Old time dancers don't die that way
See that grave I've just made
It's for me when I get paid
Somebody's gotta hold back the river
Somebody like you
Do you love and surrender
Sometimes I don't feel I can remember
I think it's fair to mention
About the days when I get paid
Somebody's gotta hold back the river
Somebody like you
Somebody's gotta hold back the river
Somebody like you
I want a little loving
I told you all to listen
But you never liked what you heard
I take what I am given
This may sound absurd
I share a double vision
That started the transition
Hey where's Jimmy Jazz
Steady on the scale
I told you to listen
I told you all to listen
Somebody's gotta hold back the river
Somebody like you
Somebody's gotta hold back the river
Somebody like you
You know that somebody
You know that somebody
You know that somebody
But it ain't you
The lyrics to Wet Wet Wet's song Hold Back the River tell a story of someone who is struggling to keep their head up in a world where they're constantly being pulled down. The opening lines, "Stop your pretending, listen to what I've got to say, how your head's went away" suggest that the person he's speaking to is putting on a facade and pretending to be someone they're not. He goes on to mention that he's only here for a day and that the grave he's made is for himself when he gets paid, implying that he's living life recklessly and without care for the future.
As the song progresses, the chorus reminds us that somebody's got to hold back the river, and that somebody is like the person he's speaking to. This person is the one who will help him stay afloat amidst the chaos of life. The song tells us that life can be tough, but with the help of someone special, we can weather the storms.
The verses themselves are quite confusing and seemingly disconnected, but the overall message of the song is one of hope and a call to action. The person he's speaking to is the one who can help him navigate the difficulties of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Stop your pretending
Stop pretending to be someone you're not
Listen to what I've got to say
Pay attention to my words
How your head's went away
How you seem to have lost yourself
Only here for a day
You're only alive for a short period of time
And that grave I just made
The figurative grave I dug for myself
Is for me when I get paid
I'll end up paying the consequences for my actions
Won't you wait a while
Can you please be patient?
Move to the blue
Stop dwelling on negativity and move towards positivity
Sometimes people don't want to say
Sometimes people hold back what they truly feel
Old time dancers don't die that way
People who live a free-spirited lifestyle don't usually pass away in a typical manner
See that grave I've just made
I'm headed towards doom if I don't change my ways
It's for me when I get paid
I'll face the consequences of my actions in due time
Somebody's gotta hold back the river
Someone has to stop life's turbulence
Somebody like you
Only a person like you can handle it
Do you love and surrender
Do you truly give yourself to love and let it consume you?
Sometimes I don't feel I can remember
Sometimes I feel like I can't recall the past
I think it's fair to mention
It's appropriate to bring up
About the days when I get paid
About the consequences I'll face when I'm held accountable
I want a little loving
I want to experience love
I told you all to listen
I previously requested that everyone pay attention
But you never liked what you heard
But you never approved of what I had to say
I take what I am given
I accept what life gives me
This may sound absurd
This may seem completely ridiculous to some
I share a double vision
I perceive things in a different way than others do
That started the transition
And that's when change began to happen
Hey where's Jimmy Jazz
This line seems to be nonsensical and lacks a clear meaning
Steady on the scale
This line also lacks a clear meaning
You know that somebody
You're aware that someone needs to help
But it ain't you
But it isn't your responsibility
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Graeme Clark, Marti Pellow, Neil Mitchell, Tommy Cunningham
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ross Wilson
I've followed these guys for 30 years....thanks for the memories..x
Debee Rennard
Such a good song accompanying instrumrents fit perfectly with his voice. Listened to them for more years than I can remember xx
Melita Hands
I love Marti's voice. Amazing. I have had a crush on him for decades.
Victoria Greenaway
I was in love with them then & I have found out that I am still in love with them now......
Liz-Marie Ljungberg
me to ....hahaha
jackwhite333
fantastic song, wow these were the happiest days of my life
Sarah Dee
Perfect!
Favourite live gig!
Would kill to have been there! x
SandararaMFC
I was at this gig, I was close to the person waving the Scotland flag near the front. Hands down the best gig I’ve ever been too 😁👍🏻
samwallaceofscotland
I know they're glaswegian, i know that's Scotland, I live here, but for some strange reason, heart melted when you mentioned Scotland flag 🏴. Wee saltire pulls some massive strings!
james jackson
Such a good song with a storming voice. This guy really could sing for sure.