“Hold You Now” describes the intensity of a promising but unstable relationship and the love shared between two people. It is Vampire Weekend’s first collaboration with HAIM member Danielle Haim.

In his interview with Coup de Main, Koenig explains that:

The duets I was interested in were two people actually talking to each other and having slightly different perspectives on a shared experience.

The chorus samples a Hans Zimmer’s piece from Terrence Malick’s 1999 war film The Thin Red Line. The song, “God Yu Tekem Laef Blong Mi”, is a Melanesian choral song performed by the Choir of All Saints from Honiara.