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Sarah McLachlan — Hold On
Album: Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 577









Released: 1993
Length: 4:06
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Hold on
Hold on to yourself
For this is gonna hurt like hell.

Hold on
Hold on to yourself.
You know that only time will tell

What is it in me that refuses to believe
This isn't easier than the real thing.

My love
You know that you're my best friend.
You know that I'd do anything for you
And my love
Let nothing come between us
My love for you is strong and true.

Am I in heaven here or
Am I...
At the crossroads I am standing.

So now you're sleeping peaceful
I lie awake and pray
That you'll be strong tomorrow
And will see another day
And we will praise it
And love the light that brings a smile
Across your face.

Oh god
If you're out there won't you hear me.
I know we're never talked before

And oh god
The man I love is leaving
Won't you take him when he comes to your door.

Am I in heaven here or
Am I in hell
At the crossroads I am standing.

So now you're sleeping peaceful
I lie awake and pray
That you'll be strong tomorrow
And we will see another day
And we will praise it
And love the light that brings a smile

So now you're sleeping peaceful
I lie awake and pray
That you'll be strong tomorrow
And we will see another day
And we will praise it
And love the light that brings a smile
Across your face

Hold on
Hold on to yourself
For this is gonna hurt like hell.
Comments (69)add comment
in first encountered this on her Afterglow Live DVD. It was/far more somber in my opinion, and very hard hitting. It’s about the loss of a partner/deep friend to cancer, I believe. 
Posted 10 months ago by Yardrake    [ Reply ]
This is, indeed, fine to my ears.  I'd like to hear it more often...
Posted 1 year ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
She sounds very originally and even though this tune may not do it to everybody , it is a fine song
Posted 4 years ago by Pilsenaaa    [ Reply ]
 ChicoCyclist wrote:
I remember when I first got this album. I had just broken up with my girlfriend of two years and was headed on a three week summer mountain biking trip to Utah and Colorado. This album was such a great mix of tonic and salt in the wounds. I still don't think my friend can listen to this as I played it nearly constantly in the truck!
 

How was the next girlfriend?
Posted 4 years ago by Pilsenaaa    [ Reply ]
 Krispian wrote:
Fumbling towards tedium
 


Te Deum laudamus
Posted 5 years ago by norbertZ    [ Reply ]
Fumbling towards tedium
Posted 18 years ago by Krispian    [ Reply ]
byrd wrote:
This is definitely a great album. And I'd have to agree, that there aren't any of her albums since that I've enjoyed as much.
X 3
Posted 18 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
jasonv wrote:
This album is amazing.. it's too bad she couldn't produce anything nearly as good afterward.
This is definitely a great album. And I'd have to agree, that there aren't any of her albums since that I've enjoyed as much.
Posted 18 years ago by byrd    [ Reply ]
I remember when I first got this album. I had just broken up with my girlfriend of two years and was headed on a three week summer mountain biking trip to Utah and Colorado. This album was such a great mix of tonic and salt in the wounds. I still don't think my friend can listen to this as I played it nearly constantly in the truck!
Posted 18 years ago by ChicoCyclist    [ Reply ]
algrif wrote: One of the most interesting first lines I've heard. Hold on to yourself. This is goin' to hurt like hell. rgrace wrote:
An example of unintentional accuracy on Sarah's part. GOD this woman makes me hurl. Off with the headset till this is over.
lol
Posted 18 years ago by Dylan76    [ Reply ]
Just went from 9 to a 10. She is so fine...
Posted 18 years ago by Norge1    [ Reply ]
algrif wrote:
One of the most interesting first lines I've heard. Hold on to yourself. This is goin' to hurt like hell.
An example of unintentional accuracy on Sarah's part. GOD this woman makes me hurl. Off with the headset till this is over.
Posted 18 years ago by rgrace    [ Reply ]
...while I'm the polar opposite. The Harlequin Romance of chick singers.
Posted 18 years ago by rgrace    [ Reply ]
This song is excellent. One of the only songs of hers I really really like.
Posted 18 years ago by aquadonia    [ Reply ]
Oh wow, Sarah you've never been better.
Posted 18 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
I like her other stuff alot better, but this still isn't too bad.
Posted 18 years ago by guitar_man_101    [ Reply ]
Just something about her voice...she could sing the phone book and I'd start to get hot and bothered..if you know what I mean.
Posted 18 years ago by nelamvr6    [ Reply ]
Great song - builds a nice tension. Good resolution. It is a bit "agony aunt" ish, but she tells a good story.
Posted 18 years ago by mach-hog    [ Reply ]
Pantagruel wrote:
Her voice is extremely irritating
In a beautiful and compelling sort of way!
Posted 18 years ago by Pipes    [ Reply ]
Hello, Sarah's voice sounds wonderful to me. Give us more! Neil
Posted 18 years ago by NeilBlanchard    [ Reply ]
Her voice is extremely irritating
Posted 18 years ago by Pantagruel    [ Reply ]
One of the most interesting first lines I've heard. Hold on to yourself. This is goin' to hurt like hell.
Posted 18 years ago by algrif    [ Reply ]
This song has follwed me down to emotional hell on more than one occassion. It's a painful favorite
Posted 18 years ago by LadyLovelyLocks    [ Reply ]
This does hurt like hell!
Posted 18 years ago by Magnus    [ Reply ]
She was right. That did hurt.
Posted 18 years ago by randomprime    [ Reply ]
A not bad song from an awesome album.
Posted 19 years ago by xouba    [ Reply ]
This is okay as long as I don't have to hear it a whole lot.
Posted 19 years ago by kazuma    [ Reply ]
I heard Sarah do a solo acoustic version of this song once and it kicked this versions' ass.
Posted 19 years ago by Rickvee    [ Reply ]
Not quite her finest, IMHO, but still a welcome addition to the RP playlist and my evening. What did I do before RP?
Posted 19 years ago by Akaiila    [ Reply ]
elara wrote:
Ah I have a quiet paino version.
Yep, I'm in pain alright.
Posted 19 years ago by Dianyla    [ Reply ]
She does it for me all the time...........we need a new CD out of her.......keep em coming.
Posted 19 years ago by rkbrownie    [ Reply ]
I usually can't stand the lilting tones and melodrama of Sarah, but this is really good.
Posted 19 years ago by BooKitty    [ Reply ]
Ah I have a quiet paino version. I'm used to that one.
Posted 19 years ago by elara    [ Reply ]
God. I haven't listened to this album in ages. I forgot how much this song just chills me.
Posted 19 years ago by Thea    [ Reply ]
elara wrote:
?? What is this crap. I like this song..but....whats with this remix?
I think this is how most of these kinda songs should sound...! Good voices complimented by grand arrangements and amazing sounds... YAY! Without the arrangement I would have given a 6 at most - like this, it's an 8! Cool.......
Posted 19 years ago by pyxxel    [ Reply ]
elara wrote:
?? What is this crap. I like this song..but....whats with this remix?
Perhaps you're referring to the version on the compilation album called "What's the Alternative"? I like that version better (it's a bit edgier musically), but this one is good too.
Posted 19 years ago by mojoman    [ Reply ]
This album is amazing.. it's too bad she couldn't produce anything nearly as good afterward. Seal is the same way, IMHO. That first album had character and a bit of an edge. He still has a touch of edge but lost the character.
Posted 19 years ago by jasonv    [ Reply ]
elara wrote:
?? What is this crap. I like this song..but....whats with this remix?
No clue what you mean by remix. This is exactlyhow it sounds on my LP, electronic wobbles and all.
Posted 19 years ago by Trustocity    [ Reply ]
?? What is this crap. I like this song..but....whats with this remix?
Posted 19 years ago by elara    [ Reply ]
Shesdifferent wrote:
I thought I was depressed!
Not depressed, just demented!
Posted 19 years ago by Pipes    [ Reply ]
I'll grant you that she is talented, but does she do anything these days but keep doing remixes of her old hits. I really did not need yet one more version of this song.
Posted 19 years ago by NiceGuy2005    [ Reply ]
I thought I was depressed!
Posted 19 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
I'd a given this song a 10 but it's too short...Anything by Sarah is more than sweet...of course, I'm biased...of course... :sunny.gif:
Posted 19 years ago by Norge1    [ Reply ]
grrrrrrrrr. beth gave me this cassette and when i'd memorized it she dumped me. grrrrrr. i didn't know 'hold on' meant wait a minute while i pack. GRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! still, i love the song. am i a masochist?
Posted 19 years ago by bubble_headed_beach_blond    [ Reply ]
Excellent. My favorite mcLachlan tune.
Posted 19 years ago by mojoman    [ Reply ]
What a fabulous song.
Posted 20 years ago by resonator    [ Reply ]
mrselfdestruct wrote:
God, people say 'pretentious' too damn much in these song comments. It's not clever! Knock it off!
Exactly..... especially with what the words are about..... yeah, AIDS is so damn pretentious.
Posted 20 years ago by Mark1970    [ Reply ]
physicsgenius wrote:
Exactly what I was going to post. "This is going to hurt like hell." Pretentious much?
God, people say 'pretentious' too damn much in these song comments. It's not clever! Knock it off!
Posted 20 years ago by mrselfdestruct    [ Reply ]
This one really filled the bill just now. Thanks RP.
Posted 20 years ago by ChardRemains    [ Reply ]
ColdBear wrote:
Usually I like Sarah, but not this one
Exactly what I was going to post. "This is going to hurt like hell." Pretentious much?
Posted 20 years ago by physicsgenius    [ Reply ]
Awesome. Boggles my mind that Norah Jones--not McLachlan--is the recent big thing in female vocalists. Singers, make that. "Singer" being a more magical thing than mere vocalist. Oh God if you're out there won't you hear me I know that we've never talked before . . .
Posted 20 years ago by Xeric    [ Reply ]
Usually I like Sarah, but not this one
Posted 20 years ago by ColdBear    [ Reply ]
namesbenny wrote:
I must confess that although I really dig Sarah, I don't find this song, or this album as compelling as her more recent work.
you my friend, are missing a soul. go get one quickly while we wait. This album placed her in the immortal category (a la Steppenwolf)
Posted 20 years ago by Nuance    [ Reply ]
intoxicating song, from a great cd... bravo to sarah for reminding me of how universal ours lives are.. :grouphug.gif:
Posted 20 years ago by JamieR    [ Reply ]
TAMARA76 wrote:
It's a song she wrote after hearing a story about a bisexual man dying of AIDS, and she wrote it from the perspective of his wife.
The song is based on the documentary A Promise Kept, the promise being that of Karin Donnan to her husband Blair to use their story to educate others about HIV/AIDS. I'd read that Karin had contracted AIDS from Blair, which gives an odd perspective on the song. On January 16, 2004, the Toronto Star refers to her as an "AIDS patient" (see Google). I agree with others that this is a great song from a great CD.
Posted 20 years ago by resonator    [ Reply ]
Killer song, killer CD... love it.
Posted 20 years ago by deadmessengers    [ Reply ]
Pipes wrote:
Just the opposite for me. I feel that the passion on this album far surpasses any of her more recent efforts. Not that I don't enjoy the new work as well, it's just that I think this was her best work to date!
Completely agree! This album is brilliant!
Posted 20 years ago by Mark1970    [ Reply ]
namesbenny wrote:
I must confess that although I really dig Sarah, I don't find this song, or this album as compelling as her more recent work.
Just the opposite for me. I feel that the passion on this album far surpasses any of her more recent efforts. Not that I don't enjoy the new work as well, it's just that I think this was her best work to date!
Posted 20 years ago by Pipes    [ Reply ]
Very, very haunting song. Her voice is absolutely beautiful.
Posted 20 years ago by pixidrizzl    [ Reply ]
I must confess that although I really dig Sarah, I don't find this song, or this album as compelling as her more recent work.
Posted 20 years ago by namesbenny    [ Reply ]
This entire CD gives me goosebumps. What a great piece of work.
Posted 20 years ago by drH    [ Reply ]
Sarah McLachlan is an incredible singer, I don't like this version of Hold On, the version on the Mirrorball album will always hold it for me.
Posted 21 years ago by BigCalm    [ Reply ]
TAMARA76 wrote:
It's a song she wrote after hearing a story about a bisexual man dying of AIDS, and she wrote it from the perspective of his wife.
Thanks for that. I'll listen to the words again and the song will probably take on even more meaning.
Posted 21 years ago by mindless    [ Reply ]
mindless wrote:
There's another version on the Album "The Freedom Sessions" (a kind of outtakes album) which is accompanied by piano instead of guitar. All versions I have heard are excellent but I do like the vocals best on this one. A strange character to her voice. I seem to recall this song being about a friend passing. Can anyone substantiate this?
It's a song she wrote after hearing a story about a bisexual man dying of AIDS, and she wrote it from the perspective of his wife.
Posted 21 years ago by TAMARA76    [ Reply ]
tiara wrote:
The versions on FTE and the compilation album, "No Alternative," are slightly different, right? This sounds more to me like the No Alt. version, which I prefer, so I am ecstatic.
There's another version on the Album "The Freedom Sessions" (a kind of outtakes album) which is accompanied by piano instead of guitar. All versions I have heard are excellent but I do like the vocals best on this one. A strange character to her voice. I seem to recall this song being about a friend passing. Can anyone substantiate this?
Posted 21 years ago by mindless    [ Reply ]
The versions on FTE and the compilation album, "No Alternative," are slightly different, right? This sounds more to me like the No Alt. version, which I prefer, so I am ecstatic.
Posted 21 years ago by tiara    [ Reply ]
Sarah can do no wrong. This is not even the best track on the album, by a long shot, and I still give it a 9.
Posted 21 years ago by gandalfbmg    [ Reply ]
Same here. I love the momentum of the chorus, sounds pretty intense
Posted 21 years ago by Roto    [ Reply ]
This song gives me goose bumps!
Posted 21 years ago by mafe    [ Reply ]