Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: folk
Song Meaning of “Holland Road” by Mumford & Sons
Mumford & Sons’ song, “Holland Road” is a vivid story of struggle and triumph. The lyrics tell a story of a man who’s struggling to keep his relationship alive. He’s trying to hold onto what he has left, but he’s faced with inner-struggles and external pressures that make it harder to hold on.
The narrator begins the song with a desperate plea: “Oh how I need to be delivered, to be delivered of this load”. He’s longing to be free and relieved of the burden of his pain and suffering. He yearns for his relationship to find a way back to the way it used to be.
The narrator attempts to find clarity in the face of his confusion; he’s trying to see a path forward. He cries out to the heavens, “Pray, how am I called to stand by, when fear’s in my head?” He’s trying to discern what’s the best path to take, in order to save his relationship and make it flourish again.
The lyrics “Seasons, they will shift / And there will be rust upon your wounds” indicate the temporariness of our feelings and emotions. Our troubles may cause us pain now, but with time and effort, these wounds can heal. The narrator is reflecting on how difficult his situation is, and it’s easy to understand why.
Although the narrator remains adamant to defend his relationship and keep it alive, he’s well aware of the fact that the road may be hard and full of obstacles: “The hills we climb, the roads that will break/ The cost of the land we traverse over”. Despite this knowledge, he’s determined to stay on the path and fight for what he believes in.
By the end of the song, the dark clouds of despair can be lifted by hope and optimism: “We’ll roll, we’ll ride, we’ll laugh, we’ll cry, we’ll make our Holland Road”. This powerful declaration can represent two possible interpretations: either the relationship is saved and the narrator is ready to move forward, or the narrator finds closure and peace knowing that he has given his all and can now move on with his life.
Mumford & Sons created a thought-provoking song with “Holland Road”.