Born in Manchester, England, and raised in Haselmere, van den Broek's musical endeavors began when he got a guitar for Christmas at the age of 11. With influences that include Ray Charles, Mac DeMarco, and Thundercat, he started releasing stand-alone singles as a teen in late 2015. His debut EP, Harmless Melodies, arrived in November 2016. Yellow Days continued to release periodic singles in 2017, some of which appeared on his debut LP, Is Everything Okay in Your World?, that October. It featured a guest spot by hip-hop artist Rejjie Snow. Early the next year, "Gap in the Clouds," from his first EP, reached a broader audience when it accompanied the trailer for the second season of Donald Glover's show Atlanta. Yellow Days followed up in April 2018 with the single "The Way Things Change" and a week's worth of club shows in the U.S. that quickly sold out, before continuing the tour in Europe. The musician's sophomore effort arrived in 2020: titled A Day in a Yellow Beat, the project was written and recorded primarily in L.A., with van den Broek sourcing new inspiration from local collaborators.
Your Hand Holding Mine
Yellow Days Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I think I've found something in you
You hold my hand so close between yours
All of this time I always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Holding mine
Always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
For these days I just count the hours
Oh, shape shifting boy in all of those scours
You hold your hand so close between yours
All of this time I always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Holding mine
Always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
Thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
Always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
At first glance, Yellow Days's "Your Hand Holding Mine" seems to be a simple love song, but upon closer inspection reveals a complex narrative of self-discovery and dependence. The opening lines, "A grew soul, purple and blue / But I think I've found something in you" suggest that the singer has experienced trauma and is undergoing a transformation. The color purple is often associated with bruising, while blue can represent sadness, so it's possible that the singer has experienced physical or emotional harm. However, the use of the past tense "grew" suggests that they are moving beyond this pain.
The song's chorus, "All of this time I always thought it would be your hand / Holding mine" establishes a theme of dependence and vulnerability. The singer has always relied on someone else to guide them through their struggles, and they have assumed that this person would be their partner. However, in the second verse, they refer to their lover as a "shape-shifting boy," which could imply that this person is inconsistent or unreliable. This shift in tone suggests that the singer is coming to terms with the fact that they need to rely on themselves instead of waiting for someone else to rescue them.
Ultimately, "Your Hand Holding Mine" is a powerful meditation on the difficulties of learning to be independent and accepting the fact that the people we love can't always be there to save us.
Line by Line Meaning
A grew soul, purple and blue
My soul has matured and suffered through sadness (represented by the colors purple and blue).
But I think I've found something in you
I believe I have found something special in you.
You hold my hand so close between yours
You hold onto my hand tightly and with affection.
All of this time I always thought it would be your hand holding mine
I thought that you would be the one to hold my hand and show me affection.
Oh, holding mine
Reiterating that my hand is being held by someone special.
Always thought it would be your hand
I always assumed that it would be your hand holding mine.
For these days I just count the hours
Lately, I have just been waiting for time to pass by.
Oh, shape shifting boy in all of those scours
Referring to a boy who has gone through different phases of life (shape-shifting) amidst difficult situations (scours).
You hold your hand so close between yours
The boy holds his own hand tightly and carefully nurtures himself.
All of this time I always thought it would be your hand holding mine
I still believe that it should be someone else's hand holding mine.
Always thought it would be your hand
I still believe that it should be your hand holding mine.
Holding mine
Reiterating that someone is holding onto my hand.
Thought it would be your hand
Reiterating my belief that it should be someone else's hand holding mine.
Holding mine
Reiterating that someone is holding onto my hand.
Contributed by Mackenzie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Seif And Co.
[Verse 1]
A grew soul, purple and blue
But I think I've found something in you
You hold my hand so close between yours
All of this time I always thought it would be your hand
[Chorus]
Holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Holding mine
Always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
[Verse 2]
For these days I just count the hours
Oh, shape shifting boy in all of those scours
You hold my hand so close between yours
All of this time I always thought it would be your hand
[Chorus]
Holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Holding mine
Always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
[Outro]
Thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
Always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
bland stan
Lyrics: (check out my lyric video!)
A bruised soul, purple and blue
But I think I've found something in you
You hold my hand so close between yours
All of this time I always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Holding mine
Always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
For these days I just count the hours
Oh, shape shifting away in all of those scours
You hold my hand so close between yours
All of this time I always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Holding mine
Always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
Thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
Always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
Mladja Radovanovic
A grew soul, purple and blue
But I think I've found something in you
You hold my hand so close between yours
All of this time I always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Holding mine
Always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
For these days I just count the hours
Oh, shape shifting boy in all of those scours
You hold my hand so close between yours
All of this time I always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Oh, holding mine
Holding mine
Always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
Thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
Always thought it would be your hand
Holding mine
distortion300
yellow days voice is something else, hits me on so many different levels emotionally. true talent honestly i hope he reads this, don't ever give up making music, the last of a dying breed
p b
vocals remind me somewhat of Hozier, with his own characteristics of couse. But the entirety of it is something else. soo good
Joshuca
You're wrong this will never die don't discredit musicians based purely on the time they were born
kylehereKC
And actually, pretty sure the "breed" you're referring to was dead n buried long before this mutant(trust me, I mean that as a compliment) arrived on this planet. Seriously, how the eff does any human under the age of...idk...50?? have a voice like this? No my friend, I think it's more likely he's first of a rebirth. Well, that or just a straight up anomaly lol. Either way, super glad he's here making music. :D
victoria benavidez
So true my brother Joseph Ray Benavidez was hurting jamming this and recently he just passed dec2021 and it a only 23 days I can’t cope
distortion300
@victoria benavidez So sorry for your loss may he rest in peace.
Jack W
Fuck man, hearing people like you, Mac Demarco, Remo Drive ect. coming out with beautiful music like this just makes me smile. Please don't stop making music. Just listening to 3 of your songs grabbed me by the soul. Nicely done man!
Nemo Dollaz
Ever heard the mars volta, polyphia, denzel curry, or chon? All are underground. Fuck the mainstream of all genres
Tony W
@Nemo Dollaz I'll never understand people like you... Something mainstream can be good you know ?
Nemo Dollaz
Tony W mainstream is less creative while the real talent who create something new and completely unique dont get half the recognition