Holdin On To Yesterday

Ambrosia's song 'Holdin On To Yesterday' delves deep into the themes of nostalgia and regret. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone who is emotionally tethered to the past, unable to move forward. The repetition of the phrase 'I keep holdin' on to yesterday' underscores the protagonist's struggle to let go of memories that continue to haunt them. This sense of clinging to the past is further emphasized by the admission of being 'wrong' for doing so, indicating a self-awareness of the unhealthy nature of this attachment.

The song also explores the loneliness that comes with missing someone deeply. The line 'I keep thinking that I'm lonely, but it's only missing you inside' suggests that the protagonist's loneliness is not just a general feeling but is specifically tied to the absence of a particular person. This person seems to have been a significant part of their life, as indicated by the reference to 'days when we were once together.' The use of the word 'alive' in this context implies that those days were filled with vitality and meaning, which are now lost.

Furthermore, the lyrics express a sense of regret and longing for what could have been. The lines 'Lord I don't know when I see you, I can't reach you anymore' and 'Well if I'd only known I'd need you, then I'd keep you like before' reveal a deep sense of loss and a wish to turn back time. This regret is compounded by the realization that the yesterdays are gone, as stated in the closing line, 'My yesterdays have all gone by.' The song captures the universal human experience of grappling with the past and the emotional turmoil that comes with it.