Hold It Together

## Music video

"**Hold It Together**" is a 2020 release by American indie pop band The Marías, featured as the A-side to its B-side track "Jupiter". Originally written in 2018, the song was completed a couple months later and reimagined for streaming services within the following 2 years.

## Background and conceptualization

The creation of the lyrics for the track initially began in late 2018, during a tour. It wouldn't be touched again until months later when it was recorded in "the middle of an empty desert." This is also where its counterpart track "Jupiter" would be recorded also. In November of 2019, a music video for the the live version of "Out for the night" was published, and a snippet of the demo was included toward the outro. Despite this, fans would not receive even its final version until months later. The music video for the single was formulated in early 2020, and teased on March 3rd in a post which read "3 days." This correlated with a Twitter statement from the day prior which read "4 days," with no other commentary or media. The following day, a new snippet was posted. On the 5th, its title and track placement were finally revealed alongside a behind-the-scenes photo of the song's music video.

> *["Hold It Together"] won't be part of the album, which we're still working on.*
> María Zardoya, via Twitter
>
>

The music video released the same day as the single, and its B-side would be released the same month.

## Theme

In an interview with The Fader, María stated what the song meant from her point of view.

> *As an introvert on tour and the only woman in a band, I was extremely anxious and stressed during this time. I think the song represents my inner turmoil. We also wanted the video to represent this as well. Bethany's concept captured it beautifully. The chrome balls, from my perspective, almost represented my brain. I wanted to console it and hold it, but at times, it got too much for me to bear and it spiraled out of control.*
> María Zardoya for The Fader
>
>

## Lyrics

**[Verse 1]**

I've got a river in my head

I remember what you said to me

Got me workin' endlessly

Is it December? All this time

I remember what it meant to me

Got me workin' endlessly

**[Chorus]**

I got a feeling that I wanna slow down with you

Nobody else will ever do

I got a feeling that I wanna be there with you

Nobody else will ever do

Nobody else will ever do (Nobody else will ever do)

Nobody else will ever do (Nobody else will ever do)

Nobody else will ever do

**[Verse 2]**

Hold it together

God, I wish I knew better

Than to be alone like this

Maybe I'm over it

I'm a little like you

Don't pick up, I slide through

And never be alone like this

I'm so over it

**[Chorus]**

I got a feeling that I wanna slow down with you

Nobody else will ever do

I got a feeling that I wanna be there with you

Nobody else will ever do

Nobody else will ever do (Nobody else will ever do)

Nobody else will ever do (Nobody else will ever do)

Nobody else will ever do

Ah

**[Bridge]**

What is happening to me inside my head? I don't

Know if i could be a remedy or antidote

Want you to talk to me and see if I'm the only one

Like I'm draining out the water from a water gun

You caught me callin' a shrink

I didn't think you're better than me

But you're singing this song

Like you're meant to be

I don't wanna bow down

Are you following?

Are you following me?

**[Breakdown]**

What is happening to me inside my head? I don't

(I got a feeling that I wanna slow down with you)

Know if i could be a remedy or antidote

Want you to talk to me and see if I'm the only one

(Nobody else will ever do)

Like I'm draining out the water from a water gun

You caught me callin' a shrink

I didn't think you're better than me

(I got a feeling that I wanna be there with you)

But you're singing this song

Like you're meant to be

I don't wanna bow down

Are you following?

Are you following me?

**[Outro]**

Nobody else will ever do

Nobody else will ever do

Ah

## Critical reception

Bryan Hahn from The Fader interpreted the song as a representation of "romantic anxiety", while describing María's vocals as "candy-textured". The single received over 1 million streams by the end of the month.

## Gallery

* Cover
* Behind the scenes
* Live performances

@themarias 〢 Twitter
A cover photoshoot outtake for both the song and its B-side.@themarias 〢 Twitter
Second outtake for both the song and its B-side.

@themarias 〢 Twitter@themarias 〢 Twitter@themarias 〢 Twitter@themarias 〢 Twitter

## Trivia

* The accompanying vinyl that was sold had all profits donated to the charity Feeding America.

## Information

### Album

*Hold It Together / Jupiter*
~~*Good Music to Avert the Collapse of American Democracy, Volume 2*~~

### Released

23 Mar. 2020 (vinyl)
~~2 Oct. (*Good Music to Avert the Collapse of American Democracy, Volume 2*)~~

### Writer(s)

María Zardoya
Josh Conway

### Producer(s)

Josh Conway

A demo of "**Hold It Together**" by The Marías was released during the sale of a limited edition vinyl in March of 2020. It was re-released to the general public on October 2nd, 2020, being featured on a compilation album titled *Good Music to Avert the Collapse of American Democracy, Volume 2* by the Good Music group.

## Background and conceptualization

Not much is known about the demo. The original lyrics were written in 2018, and the song was recorded months later. However, it is unknown when the final version was created in relation to this alternative version. In November of 2019, a music video for the the live version of "Out for the night" was published, and a snippet of the demo was included toward the outro. By the time the final version of the song's B-side had released, a limited edition vinyl was promoted, including the demo as the third track. Another snippet of the demo was included in some social media posts as well. Despite this, the version was once more released within the 24-hour compilation album *Good Music to Avert the Collapse of American Democracy, Volume 2*. The conglomeration, including demos and alterative versions of over 70 different songs, was created to encourage United States citizens to vote in the upcoming election. It was only available on the 2nd of October, and was immediately removed afterward. Even then, some archives of the second volume still exist today.

## Theme

*This section samples content from **Hold It Together**.*
In an interview with The Fader, María stated what the song meant from her point of view.

> *As an introvert on tour and the only woman in a band, I was extremely anxious and stressed during this time. I think the song represents my inner turmoil. We also wanted the video to represent this as well. Bethany's concept captured it beautifully. The chrome balls, from my perspective, almost represented my brain. I wanted to console it and hold it, but at times, it got too much for me to bear and it spiraled out of control.*
> María Zardoya for The Fader
>
>

## Lyrics

**[Intro, spoken]**

I told you I wanted to

Slow down with you

This is where it started

**[Verse 1]**

I've got a river in my head

I remember what you said to me

Got me workin' endlessly

Is it December? All this time

I remember what it meant to me

Got me workin' endlessly

**[Chorus]**

I got a feeling that I wanna

Slow down with you

Nobody else will ever do

I got a feeling that I wanna

Be there with you

Nobody else will ever do

**[Post-Chorus]**

Nobody else will ever do

Nobody else will ever do

**[Verse 2]**

Hold it together

God, I wish I knew better

Than to be alone like this

Maybe I'm over it

I'm a little like you

Don't pick up, I slide through

And never be alone like this

I'm so over it

**[Chorus]**

I got a feeling that I wanna

Slow down with you

Nobody else will ever do

I got a feeling that I wanna

Be there with you

Nobody else will ever do

**[Post-Chorus]**

Nobody else will ever do

Nobody else will ever do

**[Breakdown 1]**

I got a feeling that I

I got a feeling that I

**[Bridge]**

What is happening to me inside my head? I don't

Know if i could be a remedy or antidote

Want you to talk to me and see if I'm the only one

Like I'm draining out the water from a water gun

You caught me callin' a shrink

I didn't think you're better than me

But you're singing this song

Like you're meant to be

I don't wanna bow down

Are you following?

Are you following me?

**[Breakdown 2]**

What is happening to me inside my head? I don't

(I got a feeling that I wanna slow down with you)

Know if i could be a remedy or antidote

Want you to talk to me and see if I'm the only one

Like I'm draining out the water from a water gun

You caught me callin' a shrink

I didn't think you're better than me

(I got a feeling that I wanna be there with you)

But you're singing this song

Like you're meant to be

I don't wanna bow down

Are you following?

Are you following me?

**[Outro, spoken]**

So, we've made it this far

(Nobody else will ever do)

And I just want you to know

(Nobody else will ever do)

That I've always been scared

Of the dark

And I know that we'll meet

Again, someplace, soon

But, for now, look behind you

Bye!

## Trivia

* The band has never spoken regarding the release of the demo.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoDv\_Z68Dao
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_NTI8gpbYz8
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://youtu.be/I-2fn6C1YS0?t=319
4. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B9SLE16lSeE/
5. ↑ https://twitter.com/themarias/status/1234935323009830912
6. ↑ https://twitter.com/themarias/status/1234638479339864064
7. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Uonb9lp9p/
8. ↑ https://twitter.com/themarias/status/1235277379162869760
9. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B9XE\_NOFMJM/
10. ↑ https://twitter.com/themarias/status/1235621058696237056
11. ↑ https://twitter.com/themarias/status/1235665791183237120
12. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B9YTZ84lpqb/
13. ↑ https://twitter.com/themarias/status/1235793563201318915
14. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_NTI8gpbYz8
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 https://www.thefader.com/2020/03/06/the-marias-hold-it-together-video
16. ↑ https://twitter.com/themarias/status/1243066924851851266
17. ↑ https://twitter.com/themarias/status/1243690899084730368/photo/2
18. ↑ https://twitter.com/themarias/status/1243690899084730368/photo/1
19. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Figm9DJ9i/
20. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/15522360-The-Marías-Hold-It-Together-Jupiter
21. ↑ https://twitter.com/themarias/status/1244765848809553921
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20201002071016/https://goodmusic2020.bandcamp.com/
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Good-Music-to-Avert-the-Collapse-of-American-Democracy-Volume-2-Out-Friday-20200930
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 https://www.iheart.com/content/2020-10-01-pearl-jam-contribute-new-song-to-voting-rights-compilation-album/