Holding Back The Years by Simply Red

Album: Picture Book (1985)

Charted: 2 1

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Songfacts®:

Simply Red is fronted by singer-songwriter Mick Hucknall ("Red" was his nickname because of his red hair). Hucknall's mom, Maureen Taylor, walked out on him and his barber father, Reg, when he was three. The pain caused by not having a mother inspired him to write this song.
Hucknall wrote this song in his bedroom at his father's house when he was 17. The inspiration for the song came from a teacher at the Manchester School of Art, where Hucknall studied fine art. The instructor suggested that the best paintings are created when the artist is in a state of unconscious creation, and Hucknall attempted to use this approach in his songwriting.

"I wanted to do music, not art, so started writing lyrics that way," he told The Guardian. "The first song I wrote was called 'Ice Cream and Wafers.' The next was 'Holding Back the Years.'"

Hucknall didn't realize what the song was about until he'd finished it. "It's about that moment where you know you have to leave home and make your mark, but the outside world is scary," he explained. "So you're holding back the years."
Strangled by the wishes of patermo
Hoping for the arms of mater
Get to me the sooner or later

Hucknall's conflicts with his father during his teenage years inspired the "Strangled by the wishes of pater" line. He explained to The Guardian that the two frequently argued because there was no female presence to mediate the disputes.
Hucknall originally recorded "Holding Back The Years" in 1982 with his punk group The Frantic Elevators. He added the "I'll keep holding on" chorus after the band had split and Hucknall had formed Simply Red.
Simply Red keyboardist and trumpeter Tim Kellett took inspiration from Miles Davis's Kind of Blue album for his trumpet solo. He'd noted the jazz supremo's use of a harmon mute, a metal device that is inserted into the end of a trumpet and decided to try one out, which took producer Stewart Levine by surprise. "I played something spontaneous, and everyone liked it," he recalled. "A trumpet was pretty rare in pop and Levine was going: 'I can't f---ing believe it, man. We've got a trumpet solo.'"
The music video follows Hucknall as he walks through the English countryside and Whitby Abbey. The other members of Simply Red (excluding Fritz McIntyre, who portrays a one-man band) appear as local cricketers who greet Hucknall as he walks by. The video concludes with Hucknall riding a train, filmed at Goathland railway station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

"When I do the solo in the video, it's out of sync," noted Kellett. "My fingers aren't playing what is coming out. I don't know if Mick's even noticed, but it has always bugged me."
Simply Red went on to record 10 UK Top 10 hits, including "Fairground" a 1995 #1. In the US, their cover of Harold Melvyn's "If You Don't Know Me By Now" became their second American chart topper and the best-selling British single in the US in 1989.
The English soul and R&B-influenced boy band Another Level released a cover of "Holding Back the Years" as a double A-side single with a remix of their debut hit, "Be Alone No More." The release reached #11 in the UK.

Comments: 21

Manny Karaoke from Gigis Ventura CaI just sang this for the first time at karaoke. I thought I was going to wreck the song but my voice projected all the nuance. People’s jaws were wide open. I too thought it was a woman all these years. Seeing simply red sing it gave me courage to do it, and it is now very special to me!
Gemini Guy from Knoxville, TnOlley from Canada. Where in the h*** did you muster that "fact"from?? Seeing as how Mick Hucknall was the actual one who wrote this when he was 17??? That math would be waaay off and doesn't/won't add up from my perspective lol.... He would've only been under 8-10 years old, sooo...nooo.....didn't happen, sorry!
Olley from CanadaThis version is the nicest in my opinion. Several other bands did it but it was first done by the Marvellets in the 60s.
Melinda from AustraliaThis beautiful song always reminds me of the mid 80’s. I even remember the day I heard it. I was workin and I suddenly stopped. Spellbound by the vocals. And what I thought it might be about.

I thought the song was about the past, and lookin back, regretting lost years. Sadness and regrets. Very moving. We didn’t know about his horrible childhood in the 80’s, when Simply Red had mega fame.

This song is equally as good ..as his song, Do The Right Thing. I love that also. But that song is clearly about sex. But in a good way. Mick Hucknall and his band Simply Red dominated the charts in the -1980’s and early 1990’s. Especially in the UK.
Ed from Keenem New HampshireThe late jazz singer "Little" Jimmy Scott does the only good cover version of this song I've heard. He was born with Kallman syndrome (with stunted growth and a high-pitched voice for a man) ... one reason why he could make the song his.
Markantney from BiloxeJul 2015, when I first heard this cut back in the 80s (can't remember if it was video or radio) but I've always thought it was a Remake of 70s R&B Song? This song and "Fragile" by Sting can almost be looped and heard all day by me. Great song, excellent vocals. Of a Remake, never done:):)

BTW, the Rap Group, Brand Nubian made an excellent song with this as a sample. A rap song with a great message called, "Hold On".
Brad from Hickory, NcBittersweet song/memory of Melbourne, FL & Debbie W. Sunset on Hwy 520 amongst the cranes & gators...luxury life standing still.
Kenne from Phoenix, AzThe music video featured British actress Maggie O'Neill in her acting debut, she would later go on to star on British television.

This video was #29 on MTV's top 100 videos of 1986.
Edwina from Chicago, IlThis is one of the best song and artist...I just love this man...this is wonderful...he is so soulful...great.
Joann from Portsmouth, VaLove this song, reminds me of when i worked the night shift at the gas station, those were the days or i mean nights, used to think it was a woman singing this, boy was i wrong.
Philip from Manchester, United KingdomAs mentioned, this song was written in Mick's bedroom. It's my favourite Simply Red song, and probably my favourite song of the mid/late 80s. Its only recently, that I realised it was all about wrestling with the idea of leaving family, friends and Hucknall's hometown of Denton (nr. Manchester, England), which is also my home town. A "gritty, working class" version of Abba's little known "I Wonder"? - maybe not!
Jennifer from Indianapolis, InI love the quality of Mick Hucknall's voice, especially in this song - superb!
Giveusakiss from Geelong, AustraliaSuperb song. I've never heard anyone do a cover version of this song - anyone else would ruin it.
Chris from Geelong, AustraliaFantastic song. Beautifully done my Mick. Such wonderful colours and moods
Ivyrose from Hagatna, OtherIs Mike Hucknall married?
Jason from Dublin, Irelandthis song appeared in an episode of the t.v. show only fools and horses entitled Little Problems where rodney gets married. great song. great vocal performance by mick arguably his best. a classic
Billy Rhythm from Rockland, MeDon, I don't know Gaelic either, but I know pater and mater are Latin for mother and father, just as you surmise.
Don from B G, KyI guess "pater" means father and "mater" means mother. However, I do not know galeic/irish.
L from Portland, OrDidn't Carole King or Carly Simon make a version of Holding Back The Years?
Katherine from Staten Island, NyThe famous person who first recorded this song was Mike Hucknall himself, along with the rest of his pre-Simply Red outfit The Frantic Elevators.

The original version is a faster, more uncertain take on the song.
Deborah from Memphis, TnWhich famous person recorded this song first? I seemed to have heard this song done by someone before. I thought it was Lionel Ritchie. Please help my friend and I have a bet!

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