Don’t Hold Me Down
Today’s music muse – Don’t Hold Me Down by Colbie Caillet
Link to the song: http://youtu.be/d3zLCKaEfb0
When I opened this song this morning, my first thought was “Wow”! It felt that Colbie was in my head and my heart. The first stanza says,
I’m just so tired of these troubles that I try to hide.
Makes me wanna wash away my whole world inside.
I think it’s time that I make changes in the things I do.
This weight on my chest I am ready to loose.
I have been in the process of making “changes in the things I do” for several years, and there are times when I feel as if I am in a hamster cage running around and around in circles going nowhere. I have kept my real feelings hidden for a very long time – wanting to make changes, yet not sure how. Not being one to shy away from a fight, I go round after round pulling myself to a new place. Sometimes, it is a good place, and sometimes, it feels unsafe and toxic. It is those times that weigh me down for a while until I break away. Over time, the weight of the struggle and battle feels too much, so I hide. My mother-in-law had a saying that fits here. “I just keep putting one foot in front of the other.” Wait, it gets better!
Second stanza:
I have been rocking back and forth across the line.
Hanging for a moment on the wrong side.
Now I’m standing up, I think I’ll be here for a while.
Hope I remember how to keep on this steady smile.
“I have been rocking back and forth across the line – hanging for a moment on the wrong side.” So, all I can say is, “That!” I’ve been on the wrong side often trying to crawl out of self-dug holes. I’m at the edge, standing up and standing strong. That steady smile? I smile because I am standing up! And now for the chorus:
Don’t hold me down.
Oh, I was getting so far.
Don’t hold me down.
Cause I don’t wanna fall apart.
Don’t hold me down.
You see me waking up and feel it now.
I’m breaking down and nothing’s gonna stop me now.
We do get in our own way, don’t we? Often, it is easy to blame the people in our lives, but in the end, it is up to our own selves. If someone else gets in the way or holds us down, it is because we allow it. We can wake up and say no to ourselves. Say yes to be strong and speak your voice. What do you want to break through? Are you ready to wake up? It is that waking up process that breaks down the walls and obstacles and lets us soar. Finally,
I know I’m gonna fight it.
I’m tired of being blinded.
So….
I won’t hold me down.
Oh, I wanna go so far.
I won’t hold me down.
I don’t wanna fall apart.
Don’t hold me down.
You see you’re waking up and feel it now.
I’m breaking down and nothing’s gonna stop me now.
No, no.
Nothing’s gonna stop me now.
Saying, “I know I’m gonna fight it” seems like a self-prophecy, but we are, after all, human. And when we move out of our comfort zones, it is our nature to fight it – even if that comfort zone is not a good place. But making the statement, “I won’t hold me down,” and “Nothings gonna stop me now” is a ground breaking step. Don’t hold yourself down! “You see you’re waking up and feel it now!” Wake up!
“I’m breaking down and nothings gonna stop me now!”
Dancing Naked 