Keep Holding On

W.A.S.P.'s song 'Keep Holding On' delves deep into the emotional turmoil of unrequited love and the lingering hope that the lost love might return. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a person grappling with the pain of separation and the haunting memories of a past relationship. The opening lines, 'Your sad eyes never told me / No paradise, here for the lonely,' set the tone for a narrative filled with longing and sorrow. The protagonist is left holding onto a 'half a heart,' symbolizing the incomplete and fractured state of their emotional being.

The chorus, 'And I keep holding on / Holding on till you come back to me,' underscores the central theme of the song: the relentless hope and the refusal to let go of the past. This repeated plea highlights the desperation and the emotional paralysis that comes with waiting for someone who may never return. The lines 'Can you take me to heaven / Show me the way cause I'm no angel' reveal a sense of self-awareness and vulnerability, acknowledging personal flaws while yearning for redemption and love.

The song also explores the concept of memory and its grip on the present. 'Will I have your memory / Or will your memory have me' questions whether the protagonist will ever find peace or if they will be forever haunted by the past. The repeated realization, 'I guess me holding you / Was holding you down,' suggests a painful acknowledgment that their love may have been more of a burden than a blessing. This introspective journey through heartache and hope makes 'Keep Holding On' a poignant exploration of the complexities of love and loss.