Hold me by Michael Jackson — Analysis & Translation

Original Poem

Hold me Like the River Jordan And I will then say to thee You are my friend Carry me Like you are my brother Love me like a mother Will you be there? Weary, tell me will you hold me? When wrong, will you scold me? When lost will you find me? But they told me A man should be faithful And walk when not able And fight 'til the end, but I'm only human Everyone's taking control of me Seems that the world's got a role for me I'm so confused will you show it to me You'll be there for me And care enough to bear me Hold me (show me) Lay your head lowly (told me) Softly then boldly (yeah) Carry me there (I'm only human) Lead me (hold me) Love me and feed me (lead again) Kiss me and free me (yeah) I will feel blessed (I'm only human) Carry (carry) Carry me boldly (carry, yeah) Lift me up slowly (yeah) Carry me there (I'm only human) Save me (lift me) Heal me and bathe me (lift me up, lift me up) Softly you say to me I will be there (I will be there) Lift me (told me, yeah) Lift me up slowly Carry me boldly (yeah) Show me you care (will you be there?) Hold me (woo) Lay your head lowly (get lonely sometimes) Softly then boldly (I get lonely, yeah, yeah) Carry me there (will you be there?) Need me (woo) Love me and feed me (lift me up, hold me up) Kiss me and free me (lift me up sometimes, up sometimes) I will feel blessed (oh-yeah)

Translation (English)

Hold me Like the River Jordan And I will then say to you You are my friend Carry me Like you are my brother Love me like a mother Will you be there? Tired, tell me will you hold me? When I'm wrong, will you correct me? When I'm lost will you find me? But they told me A man should be loyal And keep going when he can't And fight until the end, but I'm only human Everyone's taking control of me Seems that the world has a role for me I'm so confused will you show it to me You'll be there for me And care enough to support me Hold me (show me) Lay your head gently (told me) Softly then strongly (yeah) Carry me there (I'm only human) Guide me (hold me) Love me and nourish me (guide again) Kiss me and free me (yeah) I will feel blessed (I'm only human) Carry (carry) Carry me strongly (carry, yeah) Lift me up gently (yeah) Carry me there (I'm only human) Save me (lift me) Heal me and cleanse me (lift me up, lift me up) Softly you say to me I will be there (I will be there) Lift me (told me, yeah) Lift me up gently Carry me strongly (yeah) Show me you care (will you be there?) Hold me (woo) Lay your head gently (get lonely sometimes) Softly then strongly (I get lonely, yeah, yeah) Carry me there (will you be there?) Need me (woo) Love me and nourish me (lift me up, hold me up) Kiss me and free me (lift me up sometimes, up sometimes) I will feel blessed (oh-yeah)

About the Poet

Michael Jackson (20th Century)

Michael Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer, dubbed the 'King of Pop'. He is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century and is among the best-selling music artists of all time.

Historical Context

Literary Form: Song Lyrics
When Written: 1991
Background: The song 'Will You Be There' was written for Michael Jackson's eighth studio album, 'Dangerous'. It gained recognition as the main theme for the film 'Free Willy'. The song addresses themes of support, love, and vulnerability.

Sources: https://lyrsense.com/michael_jackson/will_you_be_there_mj, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_You_Be_There

Detailed Explanation

Michael Jackson's 'Will You Be There' is a poignant song that explores themes of support, love, and vulnerability. The lyrics express a deep yearning for companionship and reassurance, as the speaker asks for emotional support and guidance. The repeated plea for someone to 'hold' and 'carry' them reflects a desire for unconditional love and care, akin to familial bonds. The song also touches on the pressures of societal expectations, as the speaker acknowledges the need to be faithful and strong, yet admits to feeling only human. This vulnerability is juxtaposed with the strength and comfort sought from a trusted friend or loved one. The imagery of being held 'like the River Jordan' evokes a sense of spiritual cleansing and renewal, while the repeated refrain of 'will you be there?' underscores the longing for a reliable presence in times of need. The song's emotional depth is enhanced by its soulful melody, making it a timeless anthem of hope and resilience.

Themes

Literary Devices

Word Dictionary

Word	Meaning	Translation	Transliteration
thee	you	you	thee
scold	reprimand	to criticize someone angrily	skohld
faithful	loyal	loyal	fayth-ful
bear	support	support	bair
boldly	bravely	bravely	bohld-lee
weary	tired	tired	weer-ee
confused	puzzled	puzzled	kuhn-fyoozd
nourish	feed	feed	nur-ish
cleanse	purify	purify	klenz
refrain	chorus	a repeated line or number of lines in a song or poem	ri-freyn