Holding On Lyrics & Meaning: Lolo Zouaï’s Intimate Reflection on Loss, Identity, and Letting Go

Holding On Lyrics


[Chorus]
Holding on to who I was before
Before I lost you
I'm holding on to who I was before
Before I lost you

[Verse 1]
Scared of being honest with myself
Tired of always blaming someone else
And I've been smoking like I don't care 'bout my health
'Cause either way, life ain't fair, so f*ck it, might as well
Lately, I've been looking back instead of forward
Getting lost inside a photo
We were laughing in the Rover
Now I can't help but look around to find a reason
Overdose on dopamine
Waiting for a double meaning
Yeah, lately, I've been

[Chorus]
Holding on to who I was before
Before I lost you
I'm holding on to who I was before
Before I lost you

[Interlude]
(La nuit dernière j'ai rêvé d'elle)
(On était à la plage le coucher de soleil)

[Verse 2]
I left my heart in a place that I can't go back to
I dyed my hair rose pink to feel like I have you
I don't wanna know what it means to let go, but I do
Yeah, I left my heart in a place that I can't go back to
Lately, I've been catching Z's and counting zeros
Hard to be in the mirror
Try my best to see it clear, but I can't help it
Getting lost in memories
I'm overdosing reveries
I feel closer when I'm dreaming
Lately, I've been

[Chorus]
Holding on to who I was before
Before I lost you
I'm holding on to who I was before
Before I lost you

[Bridge]
I try, but not enough
Can't keep my guard up
Unravel, spiral, I come undone
But if I close my eyes, I'm holding onto you, you, you

[Chorus]
Holding on to who I was before (Holding on, I'm holding onto who I was)
Before I lost you (Holding on, I'm holding onto you)
I'm holding on to who I was before (Holding on, I'm holding onto who I was)
Before I lost you (Holding on, I'm holding onto you)

[Outro]
Oh (Holding on, I'm holding onto who I was)
Oh (Holding on, I'm holding onto you)
Oh, oh
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Holding On Song Meaning [Lolo Zouaï]

Emerging as one of the most introspective offerings from Lolo Zouaï’s forthcoming third album "Reverie", "Holding On" serves as a linchpin in a deeply personal chapter of the artist’s journey. Lolo Zouaï, a French-born, San Francisco-raised singer-songwriter of Algerian descent, has built her career blending R&B, pop, hip-hop, and cultural influences into emotionally nuanced storytelling. Over the course of her evolving discography, she’s been celebrated for her candidness, vulnerability, and genre-defying sound. Holding On, released on February 4, 2026, encapsulates this evolution: a raw reflection on loss, identity, and the friction between past and present self that sits at the heart of Reverie’s narrative arc.

Song Meaning:

Taking shape as both confession and reclamation, "Holding On" opens with an emotional landscape marked by retrospection and tension. Lolo navigates the lingering shadows of who she once was before confronting pivotal losses in her life. Rather than presenting a detached lament, the song immerses listeners in the push–pull of nostalgia and acceptance, underscored by production that pairs cinematic mood with R&B pulse.

As the verses unfold, this tension deepens: past comforts and identities surface in memory, blurring into yearning. Scattered images and internal struggles signal an artist wrestling with honesty and responsibility—finding that even coping mechanisms can become traps when they keep one tethered to what has already faded. Memories register as both solace and anchor, with reverie itself becoming a double-edged space where the past feels palpable yet unreachable.

The interlude and subsequent verses shift this internal dialogue into something more physical and symbolic—the act of altering outward appearance to recapture what has been lost. The emotional impulse to “feel like I have you” through surface changes is offered not as whimsy but as tangible evidence of psychological attachment to a past self or connection that remains unresolved.

The musical and lyrical cadence escalates toward the bridge, where vulnerability tightens into tension. Here, the narrative voice acknowledges the complexity of trying and faltering, of guarding oneself yet still being undone by the gravity of old bonds. The repetition of holding on—echoed throughout the final choruses—becomes less about the object of attachment and more a meditation on how identity itself is forged through loss and memory.

Emotional Core and Themes:

At its emotional core, "Holding On" is a study in existential liminality: the space between who you were and who you are becoming. Rather than offering closure, the track embraces complexity, allowing grief, self-reflection, and nostalgia to coexist. Its thematic gravity lies in the universal discomfort of letting go—not just of people, but of versions of oneself that have shaped our sense of meaning. Lolo’s songwriting here threads vulnerability with self-questioning, rejecting facile resolutions in favor of authenticity.

Connection with Listeners:

What makes "Holding On" resonate is its refusal to sanitize emotional struggle. Listeners don’t merely witness someone reckon with loss; they are invited into the tension of it. The track’s openness about the difficulty of moving forward is a mirror for anyone who has ever hesitated at the threshold of transformation. Its relatability lies in that unvarnished space where pain, memory, and hope intersect—a creative choice that transforms personal introspection into communal catharsis.

Conclusion:

In "Holding On", Lolo Zouaï continues to expand her lyrical and emotional repertoire, weaving together self-interrogation and sonic depth to confront the paradox of memory and growth. As a centerpiece in Reverie, the song places identity, loss, and resilience into bold relief, inviting reflection without prescribing easy answers. Through a blend of evocative production and lyrical honesty, it exemplifies the kind of introspective yet accessible songwriting that has made Zouaï a vital voice in contemporary R&B and pop music.
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Music Video


Song Details

Song Name: Holding On
Artist: Lolo Zouaï
Album: Reverie
Lyricist: Lolo Zouaï, Liana Banks, Joey Wunsch & Al von Staats
Producers: Lolo Zouaï, Al von Staats & Joey Wunsch
Genre: R&B, Pop
Language: English
Label: Keep it on the Lolo
Released: February 4, 2026

[Disclaimer: Lyrics are for educational and entertainment purposes only. All rights belong to the original owners.]