Behind the song: ''Holding Back the Years'' by Simply Red

''I wrote the song in 1978, while I was a teenager. At art school, a teacher said: “The best paintings are when you get lost in a piece of work and start painting in a stream of consciousness.” I wanted to do music, not art, so started writing lyrics that way.'' - Mick Hucknall

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''It’s about that moment where you know you have to leave home and make your mark, but the outside world is scary. So you’re holding back the years.'' - Mick Hucknall

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''My mum left when I was three and my dad never remarried. After ''Holding Back the Years'' became a hit, my mum tracked me down, but I thought: “My dad was there every day. Cooked my meals, wiped my arse and where were you? You think you can walk back into my life and it be OK?” My seeing her was making my dad unhappy. I realised that there was no future in it.'' - Mick Hucknall



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