Lewis Capaldi’s “Hold Me While You Wait” Lyrics Meaning
Andrew Mccoy
Published Apr 16, 2026
by SMF· Published · Updated
In this track the singer is addressing his girlfriend. The dilemma is based on the fact that she does not actually want to be with him. So he is ‘holding her while she waits’. And what she is actually waiting for is another lover who she desires more than Lewis – or perhaps in this case of this particular song just for their relationship to end, as she is not sure Capaldi is the one.
');var c=function(){cf.showAsyncAd(opts)};if(typeof window.cf !== 'undefined')c();else{cf_async=!0;var r=document.createElement("script"),s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];r.async=!0;r.src="//";r.readyState?r.onreadystatechange=function(){if("loaded"==r.readyState||"complete"==r.readyState)r.onreadystatechange=null,c()}:r.onload=c;s.parentNode.insertBefore(r,s)}; })();This track is based on a real-life experience that Lewis unfortunately went through. Reportedly he had a girlfriend who, out of the blue, decided she did not want to be with him any longer. He thought that the solution would be “a couple of hugs”. And of course the whole situation unsettled him. In fact he stated that being in a romance where the participants are not sure they want to be engaged in it is “one of the most-desperate places you can find yourself”. And ultimately he did lose that girl.
As such, the beginning of the song finds Lewis appealing to his shorty to “turn around”, as in change her mind about leaving. However, even if she still decides to do so, he wants her to “hold (him) while (she) wait(s)”. Based on this, it seems that he has already accepted the fact that their romance is coming to an end, despite his belief that they can still work things out. And obviously he still loves her very much. So what he is really asking for is a few more precious moments in her arms. And such is truly a desperate affair, as Capaldi has stated.
Lewis Capaldi talks about the meaning of this song
According to Capaldi, the song is about being in a relationship with someone who isn’t sure whether they want the relationship or not.
Facts about “Hold Me While You Wait”
- Lewis Capaldi wrote this track alongside Jamie N Commons and Jamie Hartman.
- Capaldi also produced it with TMS and two other producers, namely Nick Atkinson and Edward Holloway.
- “Hold Me While You Wait” came out on 3 May 2019.
On which album is “Hold Me While You Wait”?
It appears on the 2019 debut album of Capaldi’s titled Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent. On this same album appears the hit single “Someone You Loved“.
If the lyrics of this song are autobiographical, who would the addressee likely be?
In other to get a fair idea who Capaldi might be addressing in this song, we have to take a quick walk through the Scottish singer’s dating history.
');var c=function(){cf.showAsyncAd(opts)};if(typeof window.cf !== 'undefined')c();else{cf_async=!0;var r=document.createElement("script"),s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];r.async=!0;r.src="//";r.readyState?r.onreadystatechange=function(){if("loaded"==r.readyState||"complete"==r.readyState)r.onreadystatechange=null,c()}:r.onload=c;s.parentNode.insertBefore(r,s)}; })();Capaldi has actually stomached his fair share of the dating world when he openly joked about being single for a while. Apparently, he had been in a relationship with famous British reality star Paige Turley before returning to singlehood and then to another relationship. Love Island’s Paige Turley was reportedly involved romantically with Capaldi during their college years, beginning from 2015. Their relationship however hit the rocks, when Paige allegedly cheated on Lewis with his best friend.
Funny enough, several fans were of the view that the singer’s hit track, “Someone You Loved” was written about Paige. Lewis Capaldi revealed during the 2020 BRIT Awards that the song wasn’t written about his ex-girlfriend but actually to honor his late grandmother.
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic (in 2020), Capaldi seemed to have made a comeback into the dating world as he disclosed in a radio interview that he was in a relationship. His response which came via Bustle, gave up a few hints about this mystery woman including the fact that she had a posh voice and red hair. Though the music star refused to confirm the name of his girlfriend as of this writing, Daily Mail reported Scottish student, Catherine Halliday as Lewis Capaldi’s girlfriend.
However, by September of that same year, it was reported that Capaldi and Catharine had split. The pair were in a relationship for roughly seven months before going their separate ways.
So is “Hold Me While You Wait” about Paige or Catharine?
Considering the song came out in 2019, it certainly can’t be about Catharine. Capaldi and Catharine only began dating in 2020. So based on all indications, it is very likely the song’s addressee would be Paige.
