Blake Shelton, a country singer who has had his share of successful hits, is obviously no stranger to heartbreak. Many of his songs revolve around the theme of heartbreak and lost love. Some of his most popular hits are, “She Wouldn’t be Gone” and “Austin”, both about either the loss of or longing for love; “I’ll Just Hold on” is no exception. Shelton acknowledges the fact that everyone goes through heartbreak at least once in a lifetime and the situations he sings about are easily relatable. We know how painful and hard it is to watch the one we love slip away, or even worse, know that we never had a chance in the first place. Shelton really hits home with his lyrics and is not afraid to pull on the heartstrings of his fans. Not only does Blake intrigue us with his lyrics, but he manages to incorporate relevant literary devices as well.
“I’ll Just Hold on” is about a man who is completely in love with a woman, who only wants a physical relationship with him. He talks about how he is falling for her and he cannot get enough of her, but it doesn’t matter because she’s not interested; she is simply playing a game. He knows that he’s probably not the only man in her life and he’s not significant, but every time he’s with her, he just falls deeper in. He shows this when he says, “But a night or two of loving you is better that never at all”. He is showing his vulnerability and need for this girl in his life, regardless of what the circumstances may be. Shelton uses imagery to draw the listener in and visualize the beautiful woman who he has fallen for. He says that her “green eyes and the sweet red wine” go to his head, and he gets drunk off of her being around him. Shelton also uses personification when he says, “As I watch the moonlight dancing on your skin”. He brilliantly adds in allusion when he refers to the scars she has left on his heart as those in the Oklahoma skies. Shelton even goes on the use hyperbole throughout most of the song. He says, “I get drunk on you”, “Tomorrow might be hell”, and the lines “If I had a scar for every scar you tattooed on my heart I could fill up the Oklahoma sky”. Obviously these lines are not to be taken literal; he just uses them to emphasize the severity of his need for this girl.
Throughout “I’ll Just Hold on”, Blake Shelton depicts a man struggling with falling for a girl who is hopeless. They have nothing more than a physical relationship; the woman is happy with this, while the man is secretly dying inside. Over the course of our lives, there will always be that one person who you simply cannot live without. For this man, it’s a woman who does not feel the same way. Shelton acknowledges the fact that the situation that this man is in is tough and heartbreaking, and he wants us to see this too. Blake has the ability to know what people will relate to and understand, thus, creating powerful, emotional music.
“I’ll Just Hold on” is about a man who is completely in love with a woman, who only wants a physical relationship with him. He talks about how he is falling for her and he cannot get enough of her, but it doesn’t matter because she’s not interested; she is simply playing a game. He knows that he’s probably not the only man in her life and he’s not significant, but every time he’s with her, he just falls deeper in. He shows this when he says, “But a night or two of loving you is better that never at all”. He is showing his vulnerability and need for this girl in his life, regardless of what the circumstances may be. Shelton uses imagery to draw the listener in and visualize the beautiful woman who he has fallen for. He says that her “green eyes and the sweet red wine” go to his head, and he gets drunk off of her being around him. Shelton also uses personification when he says, “As I watch the moonlight dancing on your skin”. He brilliantly adds in allusion when he refers to the scars she has left on his heart as those in the Oklahoma skies. Shelton even goes on the use hyperbole throughout most of the song. He says, “I get drunk on you”, “Tomorrow might be hell”, and the lines “If I had a scar for every scar you tattooed on my heart I could fill up the Oklahoma sky”. Obviously these lines are not to be taken literal; he just uses them to emphasize the severity of his need for this girl.
Throughout “I’ll Just Hold on”, Blake Shelton depicts a man struggling with falling for a girl who is hopeless. They have nothing more than a physical relationship; the woman is happy with this, while the man is secretly dying inside. Over the course of our lives, there will always be that one person who you simply cannot live without. For this man, it’s a woman who does not feel the same way. Shelton acknowledges the fact that the situation that this man is in is tough and heartbreaking, and he wants us to see this too. Blake has the ability to know what people will relate to and understand, thus, creating powerful, emotional music.
I can taste your kiss on my lips
And I’m wrapped around your finger tips
As I watch the moonlight dancing on your skin
Your green eyes and the sweet red wine
Go to my head girl every time
And I get drunk on you
I lose control and then
And here I go again
Chorus
I’m falling for you even though I know your only playing with my heart
Tomorrow might be hell
But a night or two of loving you is better than never at all
And I can’t help myself
So I’ll just hold on
I’ll just hold on
I’ll just hold on
Until your gone
Girl I know you’re a gypsy soul
And I’m just a stop along your road
And you hang around long enough to blow my mind
If I had a star for every scar
You tattooed on my heart
I could fill up the Oklahoma sky
So girl I don’t know why
Chorus
I’ll just hold on
I’ll just hold on
I’ll just hold on
Till your gone
I look down at my cell phone ringin'
I see your name and I know what that means
But I don’t care
I’ll just hold on
Till your gone
Every time you leave I take it hard
Seeing you go just breaks my heart
But don’t care
I’ll just hold on
Till your gone
Your green eyes and that sweet red wine
Go to my head girl every time
But I don’t care
I’ll just hold on
Till your gone
