What does Hold On mean?

Shawn Mendes: Hold On Meaning

Album cover for Hold On album cover

Hold On Lyrics

Stop, take it in and I
Breathe for a minute, I
Think too much when I'm alone
I never win when I
Keep all my thoughts inside
So I'll pick up the phone

And my dad says, "Shawn, stay with me
Everything will be alright
I know I haven't seen...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 2nd 2018 !⃝

    From experience with writing songs, nobody can really know what it could be about for sure, only the artist. Just like if someone were to do a painting, unless they tell you exactly what their inspiration was, you'll never really know. It may sound like something completely different than it sounds/looks. Shawn may have been dealing with depression/anxiety, but unless he tells us specifically for this song, nobody will know for sure. It's a BEAUTIFUL song though, and could be very therapeutic for someone who is dealing with depression and anxiety.

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Sep 28th 2018 !⃝

    I don't think this song is about Shawn feeling suicidal, I think it is about Shawn feeling stressed and anxious because he has anxiety, so when it says "so I pick up the phone", it is talking about him calling his dad, and then his dad giving him words of wisdom or something.

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 22nd 2018 !⃝

    This song is about a real phone call Shawn had with Manny, his dad, where Shawn got so overwhelmed with his fame and success that he didn't know if he should stop and live a normal life so he called his dad and he told Shawn it will pass and the success is a good thing.

  4. anonymous
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    Apr 6th 2020 !⃝

    I really don't think it's about suicide at all. More anxiety and stress. Shawn was abt 18 and barely starting off as a singer. So he might have been really stressed bc of all of this. So he decided to call his dad and tell him about how everything was going. At this time Shawn and his dad were separate from each other bc Shawn was busy doing tours and singing. The line 'i don't know what you're going through but there's so much life ahead of you' is his dad. What his dad is trying to say is he isn't in shawns place but Shawn is 18 and has way more things that will happen. Even if they are not all happy and he shouldn't worry. So in conclusion I think is strongly stress and anxiety

  5. anonymous
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    Apr 24th 2019 !⃝

    If I talk about his song 'hold on', one of my favourite songs of his, because no singer is genuine enough to write the truth on their song..but what is special in Shawn Mendes is that he is not afraid to speak the truth in his every single song..We don't find celebrities who are genuine,king, honest, cool, hot,a person who truly cares and has more feelings about every person on this earth..He sang hold on to his dad, how Manny (his dad)helped in times of trouble and pain..If I write about this talented singer 'Shawn Mendes'it's endless.But unfortunately I have stop.thankyou!

  6. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Feb 19th 2019 !⃝

    I cried when listening the Hold On because its such a beautiful song and every song that Shawn writes gets to my heart and i try to understand what it means and i don't think Hold On was about suicide i think its was about anxiety and how he just is famous and he cant really get a hold of that ( now he can don't get me wrong :) So he leaned over to his dad and ask for help because that's what parents do they help and Manny, his father, told him really good advice and this song is about holding on to your life that you have because things will get better and you have a great life right now and in the future. We all know that Shawn has anxiety and that he goes through that and things get hard but you just got to push through it and lean on someone you love and trust. :) rock on and love Shawn!!!!!!

  7. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Dec 2nd 2018 !⃝

    I think it's about his dad is ill and he has a lot of his life to get through and telling Shawn to stay with him because he might die.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  8. anonymous
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    Sep 19th 2018 !⃝

    that this song is about a panic attack
    this is about his fathers reassuring him as he's in the middle of a stressed induced panic attack

  9. anonymous
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    May 29th 2018 !⃝

    OR (ALTERNATE THEORY TO THE ONE I POSTED JUST NOW) Shawn is struggling with a heartache from a break up and hes teaching out to his dad like "man, I don't know what to do. I really liked/loved her and all she does is walk all over me and hurt me and break me down and leave me. And I love her. But I don't think this is healthy and this relationship is toxic." And
    his dads just like. Shawn. No. Stop. Leave her. You'll be fine. (Plus shawns got plenty of fans to pick from ;) nah I'm just playin'.) But anyways, shawn is trying to recover from heartbreak and his father is supporting him. (I'm probably waaaaaaayyyyyyyy off. But its fine I'm just slow.)

  10. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    May 29th 2018 !⃝

    I have to disagree with most of you, not because shawn couldn't have been thinking about suicide, but because I personally dont think that's what was being thought of when the song was written. I think Shawn was probably going through a lot and everything was moving so quickly and it was stressing him out. So he reached out to his father, and his father told him everything was going to be okay. He said he hadnt seen him in a while, probably because of shows and tours, and shawn was probably feeling kinda home sick. Going from lame to fame is probably really stressing and frightening.(not that shawn is/was ever lame, just an expression) So I can imagine he was, not scared, but concerned for what his future was to hold. Sometimes just having your parents there by your side and reassuring you is all you need. And I truly think thats what "Hold On" was about. Not suicide.

  11. anonymous
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    Mar 26th 2018 !⃝

    I think it is about the stress Shawn is going through and he has someone there for him ( his father) who is helping shawn through the stress. When shawn said his dad said" stay with me
    Everything will be alright
    I know I haven’t seen you lately
    But you’re always on my mind" he is saying that shawn will be home soon and that shawn needs to be strong. I think she is saying dont commit suicide, like it is a suicide prevention song and that we all have someone. It is just about staying strong and not giving up on your dreams etc. It is supposed to be a positive and hopeful song. Hope I helped you get clear understanding on this song:P

  12. anonymous
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    Mar 21st 2018 !⃝

    I don’t think the song is about suicide like most of the comments. I believe that his father helped him through these recent stressing events. He must have felt overwhelmed with the new fame coming to him and his dad simply helped him through everything. I really don’t think Shawn would go to the point to commit suicide...

  13. anonymous
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    Mar 14th 2018 !⃝

    I think that Shawn was going through a lot when he made this song and was basically telling all of his fans that he might of committed suicide if it was not for them (us) or his father. I really do love how Shawn will share his story with us and not expect us to hurt him even more or make it harder on him. He expects us to be there.

  14. anonymous
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    Mar 5th 2018 !⃝

    i think it just means shawn is very sad at the moment and might commit suicide (idk

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  15. anonymous
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    Feb 25th 2018 !⃝

    I feel Shawn might commit suicide, and his dad is convincing him not to.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  16. anonymous
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    Jan 2nd 2018 !⃝

    I believe that this means that Shawn was definitely going through some difficult times maybe in his life like every single person on this planet. he tries to reach his fans by never giving up and showing that everything will be all right. By his lyrics, “so i’ll pick up the phone.” could possibly be the suicide hotline. And to show that you will never be alone and that there is always someone available to help you.

  17. anonymous
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    Dec 26th 2017 !⃝

    I think it’s about suicide and depression and how someone will there for you at some point you just need to find them be it temporary or permanent they could be the light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s not just a stupid expression

  18. anonymous
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    Dec 26th 2017 !⃝

    I think it’s about suicide and depression and how someone will there for you at some point be it temporary or (if God’s on ur side) permanent)
    I never believed in the saying “light at the end of the tunnel” bc depression and schizophrenia does that to u

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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