Flo wrote ‘Hold Up Your Head Child’ after a few years spent in and out of hospital where she was being treated with a flare up of an autoimmune disease. There were times when she thought she would never recover and would have chronic pain forever, but she did recover and this song was written. With a taste of jazzy/folk, Flo describes her experience of despair - going on to repeat the line - “hold up your head child, this will pass” with a sense of hope. During this time, writing music was a way of helping her to accept her illness and say goodbye to certain parts of herself.
lyrics
Well I'm young, then I'm old again
Well I've suffered the waves, that I just can't explain
Why I'm here
Why I long to be near
Cos I'm sensitive, oh my skins feeling dry
Oh I'm sensitive, it was the longest goodbye
Oh I'm feeling like this
I'm feeling like this
Hold up your head child, this will pass
Hold up your head child, this will pass
If I could
Would I try to love every day
If I could
Would I give up holding on anyways
If I could
Would I try to love every day
I'd give it all
Would I give up holding on anyways
Well I'm young
Then I'm old again
Well I've suffered the waves
That I just can't explain
Why I'm here
Why I long to be near
Cos I'm sensitive, oh my skins feeling dry
Oh I'm sensitive, it was the longest goodbye
Oh I'm feeling like this, I'm feeling like this
Hold up your head child, this will pass
Hold up your head child, this will pass
Hold up your head child, this will pass
Hold up your head child, this will pass
If I could
Would I try to love every day
If I could
Would I give up holding on anyways
If I could
Would I try to love every day
I'd give it all
Would I give up holding on anyways
Oh I'm feeling like this, I'm feeling like this
Hold up your head child, this will pass
Hold up your head child, this will pass
Hold up your head child, this will pass
Hold up your head child, this will
credits
from Characters,
released July 16, 2021
Written, composed and played by Flo Perlin
Co produced by Flo Perlin and Duncan Thornton @maprecordingstudio
String arrangements - Flo Perlin and Henry Burnett
Mixed - Duncan Thornton
Mastering - Cicely Balston
Violin - Corey Wickens
Cello - Natalie Hancock
Viola - Emily domingue
Double bass - Twm Dylan
Flo Perlin is a contemporary singer-songwriter from London, UK with Iraqi and Belarusian heritage. She has been hailed as a
‘true storyteller’ by BBC Radio 6 with a style that blends contemporary folk, jazz and soul. The songs explore themes such as family history, human nature and being good to yourself....more
I once spent a whole day lying on the carpet in my old house during winter time, listening to this album on repeat. There's a rawness that touches every part of me. It's just stunning. Flo Perlin
supported by 4 fans who also own “Hold Up Your Head Child”
Dearest Arooj, firstly thank you. My brother died this year n what can be said about such loss n sadness. I saw n heard you at The end of the Road in England. I spent many years in India n love all the music, poetry of your heritage. Thankyou Arooj❤️ ben1769
supported by 4 fans who also own “Hold Up Your Head Child”
Intimate and unique. This album plays well with a bottle of Syrah crunched up in your finest pair of headphones with candles lit in a steamy bubble bath. sig
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