Simply Red’s “Holding Back the Years” Lyrics Meaning

“Holding Back the Years” is a song by the British pop band Simply Red. According to the band’s lead singer Mick Hucknall, he wrote the song when he was just a teenager, during the time he was living with his father.

Hucknall’s mother abandoned him and his father when he (Hucknall) was only three years old. According to him, the problems the family encountered as a result of his mother’s abandonment inspired the lyrics of the song.

Narrative

This song is set in a moment of time, specifically for the narrator, where he is on the verge of leaving his tumultuous teenage life behind. Or more to the point, he is about to move out from under his family and set out to make his own mark on the world. But he is also experiencing fear and apprehension in terms of actually doing so. Or as the song artistically puts it he is “holding back the years”, as in clinging to his less-intimidating childhood.

So on one hand, the prospect exists for him ‘to escape from all he’s known’. And as he has already established prior to making that statement, what he actually knows is beef with his dad. Moreover he is the son of an absentee mom who actually wishes his “mater”, i.e. mother, were present. 

And more to the point, he is a regular victim of depression who has in fact reached the point where all his “tears” have been “wasted”. So the narrator is indeed a troubled soul. Thus despite his aforementioned reservations and doubts, he is apparently going on with his plan to leave home – faithful that the best will come out of the situation even though he may not be particularly optimistic.

“I’ll keep holding on
I’ll keep holding on
So tight”

Facts about “Holding Back the Years”

Since Hucknall enlisted the help of Neil Moss of the Frantic Elevators fame in writing the song, the pair shares songwriting credit on the song. It is worth noting that prior to Simply Red, Hucknall was a member of the Frantic Elevators.

Despite, Hucknall writing the song when he was 17, the song’s chorus wasn’t written until several years later.

The song was produced by renowned American record producer Stewart Levine, who besides his work with Simply Red is known for working with such greats like B.B. King, Joe Cocker, Hugh Masekela, Oleta Adams and Boy George.

“Holding Back the Years” was released in 1985 as a single from the band’s debut album “Picture Book”. The band’s famous song “Money’s Too Tight (to Mention)” was also a single from “Picture Book”. 

The song was originally released (in a different version) by Hucknall’s former band Frantic Elevators.

Having peaked at the number two position on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, “Holding Back the Years” remains the most successful single of the entire career of Simply Red.

The title of the song is often mistaken to be “I’ll Keep Holding On” because of how prominent the line is in the song.

In Conclusion

On “Holding Back The Years”, Hucknall is depressed and doubtful but still opts to leave his tumultuous childhood behind in search of his own destiny

Did “Holding Back the Years” win a Grammy Award?

The song was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals category at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards in 1987. However, it lost to “That’s What Friends Are For” by Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Elton John and Stevie Wonder.

Mick Hucknall talks about the Song

According to Hucknall, “Holding Back the Years” holds the distinction of being the one song that everyone can’t wait to hear him perform during live shows and concerts.

According to him, he wrote the song when he was just 17 years old in his bedroom at his father’s house in Denton, Greater Manchester, England. He further revealed that he had actually only learned how to play the guitar just weeks before he wrote this song. He therefore only knew just 3 chords. Interesting.

“I don’t listen to motivational speakers, I just listen to ‘Holding Back the Years’. It has the ability to keep me fully engaged in my efforts to improve my life, no matter the obstacles that come my way. Whether things are going well or not, its message remains constant: to persevere and remain strong. The lyrics encourage me to hold on, and they remind me that there is always hope for a better tomorrow.”

– Kojo Enoch