I don't like you
But I love you
Seems that I'm always
Thinking of you
Oh, oh, oh,
You treat me badly
I love you madly
You've really got a hold on me
You've really got a hold on me, baby

I don't want you,
But I need you
Don't want to kiss you
But I need you
Oh, oh, oh
You do me wrong now
My love is strong now
You've really got a hold on me
You've really got a hold on me, baby

I love you and all I want you to do
Is just hold me, please, hold me, squeeze,hold me
Tied up. Tied up.

I want to leave you
Don't want to stay here
Don't want to spend another day here
Oh, oh, oh, I want to split now
I just can quit now
You've really got a hold on me
You've really got a hold on me, baby

I love you and all I want you to do
Is just hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me

You've really got a hold on me
You've really got a hold on me


Lyrics submitted by Ice, edited by Mellow_Harsher

You've Really Got a Hold on Me (Smokey Robinson cover) song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    It's about wanting or needing someone, but at the same time knowing that the person is not right for you.

    Maksimovicon June 08, 2008   Link
  • +2
    Song Comparison

    This song is about being a codependent to someone who is unstable or wrong for you in some way. There's lots of songs about being codependent -" Britney Spears "Toxic" (btw Naim Yael does a killer cover), Rod Stewart (originally by Tim Hardin) "Reason to Believe," Sia "The Co-dependent, Jazmine Sullivan "Holding You Down," Bad Company "I Can't Live Without You," Dido "White Flag," Dean Martin "You're Nobody 'Till Somebody Loves You," Dolly Parton "Jolene," Everclear "You Make Me Feel Like a Whore," Ella Fitzgerald (edgy cover by Tricky) "Black Coffee," Soft Cell "Tainted Love," U2 "With or Without You," Melissa Etheridge "I'm the Only One," Ducan Sheik "Barely Breathing," Lauren Hill "The Ex-factor," Sade "Mr. Wrong," John Mayer "Heartbreak Warfare," and even the song "Your Are My Sunshine."

    sem3000on February 05, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The original is by Smokey Robinson. All The Beatles did was perform an absolutely amazing cover. One of my favorites.

    CraigNewton October 27, 2004   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I think this song can be taken in different ways. When I first heard it I thought it was about a more lighthearted romance between people who loved each other but didn't always get along (an example would be Princess Leia and Han Solo from Star Wars). As I listened to the song more though, I saw that it could have a darker interpretation, namely "I love you and I want to be with you, but you treat me so badly that I can't help but want to leave you."

    purplepassionon December 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    cant believe no one has commented on this song! Its brilliant! About loving something so dearly, and they just are horrible, and they just dont treat u right, but still u adore them, and cant let them go, u want them to just be with u! I think everybody can relate! Great song!!!

    angel2kisson September 01, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's because it's a cover version - The Beatles didn't write it!

    butterfingersbeckon June 21, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the song is credited to a 'robinson' on the album 'with the beatles'. does anyone know who that is?

    fixerupperon June 22, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Me too. I thought it was a Beatles original. Thanks, guys.

    handsdown4dbeatleson July 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I heard this cover the other day off a live video session from youtube! I have to say this cover is wonderful and amazing!

    but can anyone direct to what album this song was released on?

    RenePerezzon August 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    it was on the Beatles' 2nd British release, With the Beatles it was originally released as a single by the Miracles in November of 1962

    crazydiamond1to9on December 31, 2006   Link

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