Lyrics:

“Hold You Down” peaked at #64 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #27 on Billboard’s Mainstream Top 40 chart.
The song samples Shirley Murdock’s song “As We Lay.”
Tia

Now you've been holding me down, mmm
For such a long time now
From back then 'til now, in my story
Straight from the hood, you've always been there for me
And you had my back when they
Back when everybody said I wasn't anything
It was you who kept me holding on, no matter what was going on
So whatever you need, I got you, yeah (Yeah, uh, yeah)

Reminiscin' that 6 train from way back
Now it's sky blue Phantoms and stretch Maybachs
From sweepin' them floors in them Bronx apartments, ha
'Mira, esta que on that red carpet'
When Pun died, you was the first to call me
I never told you but you was there for me
Whatever you need, I'll be there for you
Crack, I got your back for real, true story

Now my loyalty will always be with you
If you just promise me
That you'll stay real, just like you are
'Cause baby, you don't have to change, no

You don't know how much you mean to me (No)
Whenever you down, you know that you can lean on me (No)
No matter the situation, boy, I'm gon' hold you down (You don't know)
You don't know how much you mean to me (Hey, hey)
Whenever you down, you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, girl, I'm gon' hold you down (Yeah, uh, yo)

2005 Rakim and Jody Watley
Watch me paint a picture so perfect, quite possibly
The realest, fresher from BX to South Beach
I'ma always hold you down, girl, you can count on me

So remember this whenever I call
We go back too far, we've been through it all
Even though we haven't spoke in so long
Ain't nothing changed, not a damn thing, baby

Now my loyalty will always be with you
If you just promise me
That you'll stay real, just like you are
'Cause baby, you don't have to change, no ('Cause you don't know)

You don't know how much you mean to me (How much you mean to me)
Whenever you down, you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, boy, I'm gon' hold you down (I don't care what's going on)
You don't know how much you mean to me (You don't know, no, no)
Whenever you down, you know that you can lean on me (Oh-woah)
No matter the situation, girl, I'm gon' hold you down (Yeah, uh, yo)

Like green is to autumn, some things must stay
This industry, yeah, I fought 'em, made me this way
Get between me and J. Lo, I simply state
You're better off sweepin' leaves on a windy day, no

So I don't care about the situation
I'ma ride for you if there's a complication
'Cause every time you had my back and all
When we were young, now you Joey Crack and all

Now my loyalty will always be (Now my loyalty will always be)
With you if you just promise me (With you if you just promise me)
That you'll stay real, just like you are
'Cause baby, you don't have to change because

You don't know how much you mean to me (You don't know)
Whenever you down, you know that you can lean on me (Yeah, yeah)
No matter the situation, boy, I'm gon' hold you down (Gonna hold you down, yeah, yeah)
You don't know how much you mean to me
Whenever you down, you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, girl, I'm gon' hold you down (Gonna hold you down)
You don't know how much you mean to me (You don't)
Whenever you down, you know that you can lean on me
No matter the situation, I'm gon' hold you down (I'm gonna hold you down)
You don't know how much you mean to me (Yeah, yeah)
Whenever you down, you know that you can lean on me (You know)
No matter the situation, I'm gon' hold you down (Yeah, yeah)

You down
Down, down, I'm gonna hold you down
Oh
You down