It's a darkness you can't deny
But it don't belong in a grown up mind
Distortion finds its place in a youngsters eyes
Coming into life you need its grind
But at a certain point you got to let it go
Or it will cross the permanent threshold
You know you gotta find it out in something else good
Oh black metal so misunderstood!
Holding on to black metal (black metal)
(black metal) (black metal)
Holding on to black metal (black metal)
Yeah you been holdin on too long!
Oh black metal so misunderstood
Deep black service under Lucifer's hood
Black metal steals souls young, enuff is enuff
Refill out of Lucifer's cup
Black metal needs to be ... u teenage pop
Look @ u starchild ur all grown up
But still holdin on to black metal
(black metal) black metal
(black metal) (black metal)
Holding on to black metal (black metal)
Yeah you been holdin on too long
Catching waves on Lucifer's beach
Taking shade underneath Lucifer's beach
Getting sustenance from Luficer's peach
Oh black metal it's a ... all you speech
Length of album version: 4:19
Written by: Jim James
Band quotes
In an 2011 interview with MySpace Jim James explained how he'd been driving around listening to a song from a Thai pop compilation that had inspired a yet-to-be-titled track on the album. James’ head was suddenly overtaken by the voices of screaming women: they were yelling ‘Black Metal’. Just like that, James decided to add backing female vocals to the song, which came to be known as Holdin’ On To Black Metal.
"It was inspired by a song from a ’60s Thai pop compilation. I was hypnotized by it, and listened to it on repeat in the car. The lyrics and melodies just poured out as I drove thru Griffith Park, rocking to the riff of the song from the stereo. And therefore and unto forth and so on."- Jim James
( A.V. Club interview, May 2011)
Interviewer: The song Holding On to Black Metal seems like an analogy for the growth you're talking about. Were you a black metal fan?(Toronto Sun, May 2011)
Jim James: When I was younger, I had more room for that energy. I still have respect for the bands and the music, but sonically, my brain can't handle the landscape of that music any more. That might be due in large part to being in a touring rock band. I'm constantly hearing loud music. So when I want to listen to music, I don't want to hear guitars.
