\"Holding Back the Years\" is the seventh track on #Simply #Red's debut studio album Picture Book (1985). It remains their most successful single, having reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the UK Singles Chart.
Frontman of the group Mick Hucknall wrote the song when he was 17, while living at his father's house. In a 2018 interview, Hucknall said the song was inspired by a member of teaching staff at Manchester School of Art, where Hucknall was a fine-art student: the lecturer suggested the greatest paintings are produced when the artist is working in a stream of consciousness, which Hucknall then tried to apply to songwriting – \"Holding Back the Years\" was the second song he wrote using this method
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Holding Back The Years
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G
Holding back the years, thinking of the fear I've had so long,
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G
When somebody hears, listen to the fear that’s gone,
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G
Strangled by the wishes of pater, hoping for the arms of mater
Fmaj7 G G
Get to me the sooner or later
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G
Holding back the years, chance for me to escape from all I’ve known
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G G
Holding back the tears, cause nothing here has grown
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G
I’ve wasted all my tears, wasted all those years
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G
Gnd nothing had the chance to be good, nothing ever could yeah whoa
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G
I’ll keep holding on, I’ll keep holding on
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G G
I’ll keep holding on, I’ll keep holding on
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G G
So tight oh now
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G
Well I’ve wasted all my tears, wasted all those years
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7
G
Gnd nothing had the chance to be good, Cause' nothing ever could yeah
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G
I’ll keep holding on, I’ll keep holding on
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G
I’ll keep holding on, I’ll keep holding on
G Fmaj7 G G
Holding, holding, holding_________
Fmaj7 G
That’s all I have today
Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G (to fade)
It’s all I have to say
