Country singer Travis Tritt scored his first number-one hit with his second release from his 1990 debut album Country Club titled “Help Me Hold On.” He co-wrote it with accomplished songwriter Pat Terry under Warner Brothers Nashville. Fellow country music artist Dana McVicker lent her voice for the background vocals while producer Gregg Brown also played the acoustic guitar for the track. And a whole list of talented musicians also took part in creating the song.
Meaning Behind the Song
“Help Me Hold On” was one of five writing credits in the album—two self-penned and three co-writes. It was definitely an emotional one, as it narrated the story of a failing relationship, with the man begging his woman for one more chance to salvage it.
The story opens with the man asking his lover to stop packing her suitcase and sit with him. He then starts to work things out, singing, “I know you tried to tell me what was lackin’ / But I guess I must have missed it by a mile / Well, this time girl I swear to you I’ll listen.” He then asks her to help him understand where things went wrong because he’s scared he’ll go cr𝖺zy once she’s gone.
He asks her to help him hold on to what they had.
For You
He tries to convince her that their love can be strong again and that he now knows she’s right all along. He pleads to her, “What have I got to do to make it better / What have I got to do to make you see.” He then confesses to her that he realized he took her love for granted, but he was ready to do anything and everything just for her never to leave his side.
Tritt’s expressive and emotive vocals clearly conveyed the male narrator’s longing and pleading. The sparing use of harmony vocals brought emotional impact on certain lines, especially in the chorus. Musically, the song prominently featured the acoustic guitar, with a gentle, rhythmic strumming pattern that set its melancholy tone. There were also noticeable touches of piano sounds that added depth to the soft moments. And, of course, the steel guitar delivered the classic country twang.
This is definitely one of the Travis Tritt classics, just like “Anymore,” “Can I Trust You with My Heart,” “Best of Intentions,” and “It’s A Great Day To Be Alive,” that you wouldn’t want to miss out on.
Listen to Travis Tritt’s “Help Me Hold On” in the video below.
