I realize “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” by Shawn Mendes is almost 10 years old, but its message feels timeless in a sense. It’s one of many secular songs about coloring outside the lines. This song is certainly catchy, but it has some questionable lyrics that will hopefully hold you back from adding it to your playlist.
A Loss of Inhibition and a Ruined Reputation
Although I don’t find the first verse of this song particularly problematic, the chorus makes me cringe.
Oh, I’ve been shaking
I love it when you go crazy
You take all my inhibitions
Baby, there’s nothing holdin’ me back
You take me places that tear up my reputation
Manipulate my decisions
Baby, there’s nothing holdin’ me back
There’s nothing holdin’ me back
There’s nothing holdin’ me back
Having fun and being spontaneous aren’t necessarily bad, but the references to Shawn’s girlfriend going crazy, taking him to places that ruin his reputation, and manipulating his decisions don’t make her sound like a very good person. She’s the reason he crosses lines and breaks rules. And he doesn’t seem to mind that she’s negatively influencing his decision-making.
Way Too Far into the Dark
Honestly, I’m not a big fan of the second verse, but there’s not enough room in this post to address every issue with “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back”—so we’ll skip to the bridge.
’Cause if we lost our minds
And we took it way too far
I know we’d be alright,
Know we would be alright
If you were by my side
And we stumbled in the dark
I know we’d be alright,
I know we would be alright
Even though it’s not super clear what Shawn means by taking things “way too far” and stumbling “in the dark,” we can probably assume sin is involved. But what really bothers me about the bridge is the actions-don’t-have-consequences message it sends. While God is incredibly merciful, it’s so important to understand that (in general) wise choices have positive consequences and foolish choices have negative consequences. Shawn doesn’t seem to get that.
There Should Be Something Holding You Back
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words of my mouth. Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths. For many are the victims she has cast down, and numerous are her slain. Her house is the way to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death. (Proverbs 7:24-27 NASB1995)
The “she” in this passage refers to a boisterous, brazen, and rebellious woman who manipulates a foolish man into having an affair with her. (Sound kind of familiar?) The Bible is filled with warnings about people like her.
But instead of promoting the importance of setting and maintaining boundaries, “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” encourages us to cross them. The boundaries God has set for us in His Word don’t actually hold us back. Rather, they protect our hearts, minds, and souls. Even though it’s not always easy to stay within those boundaries, it’s absolutely worth it.
Lyrics are from AZ Lyrics.
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