Hold Me by Fleetwood Mac

Album: Mirage (1982)

Charted: 4

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

Fleetwood Mac singer/keyboard player Christine McVie wrote this song with Robbie Patton, a singer who had a #26 US hit in 1981 with "Don't Give It Up," which features guitar by Lindsey Buckingham. Patton toured as an opening act with Fleetwood Mac in 1979 and McVie produced his albums Distant Shores (1981) and Orders From Headquarters (1982).
This song was inspired by Christine McVie's relationship with Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson. After she split with Fleetwood Mac bass player John McVie, Christine dated Wilson for several years before they broke up in 1981. Wilson died in 1983 in a drunk-drowning accident.
The video for this song was inspired in large part by the works of the Belgian painter Magritte, whose paintings appear in the clip. It was directed by Steve Barron and shot in the Mojave Desert. The combination of extreme heat and band tension made for a very difficult shoot. Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks had all started solo projects, and getting the band to collaborate was a lesson in futility. The video's producer Simon Fields said in I Want My MTV by Craig Marks, "John McVie was drunk and tried to punch me. Stevie Nicks didn't want to walk on the sand with her platforms. Christine McVie was fed up with all of them. They were a fractious bunch."

The video was subpar, but it was a fresh Fleetwood Mac video, which was good enough for MTV, which in 1982 was desperate for new clips by rock artists, especially established ones. Fleetwood Mac's video for "Tusk" was one of the few they had available when they launched on August 1, 1981.
Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham share the lead vocals on this track.

Comments: 25

Wisco from WisconsinI'm certain that's a sampled sneeze in the chorus, used as a percussive sound.
Cam from OhioI was a huge Fleetwood Mac fan from its earliest days and know all the words to quite of few of their songs. This one, tho, never clicked with me.
Bushman from PaThis and Go Your Own Way are my favorite FMac songs. Loved this first time I heard it. Musical magic.
Xira from SdHi I wanted to know if anyone knows whats being sung in the Background during the chorus, sounds like "Oh Far Man" ??
Rnmorton from PaSubpar video? I think not. It is one of my favorite rock videos ever. The song itself just rocks.
David Harvey from AustraliaI don't blame the group for feeling hot and bothered by the 100-degree heat at the video shoot, especially in the middle of a California desert during the summer, and that might've been why they were getting on each other's nerves.
I have read that at the time of the video shoot, Lindsey Buckingham was still not over his and Stevie Nicks's breakup nor her affair with Mick Fleetwood plus Mick had gotten romantically involved with Stevie's friend Sara Recor, the ex-wife of Jim Recor, who had been a roadie or something for Loggins & Messina, one of my favourite duos.

It was very sad what happened to Dennis Wilson a year later and his death was a complete waste of talent.
Michael Mcdonald from Aberdeen, Washington Was the ‘Yelp’ in “Hold on to Me” accidental ?
6gunsound from Mt. Pleasant, TnMaybe just my ears, but I always heard a yappy dog barking during the “Hold me” chorus.
Bill from New York"Hold Me" is my favorite Fleetwood Mac song, but "Love Will Show Us How" is my favorite Christine McVie song.
Ben from OhioI had no idea the song was that old. Never heard it as at the time never knew who Fleetwood Mac was. Guess you could call me an old-timer I'm 76 and always loved rhythm and blues rock and roll Etc. When I first heard this song it was a revelation to me how I love the harmony, tje beat, the melody wow!! knocks me out. So bet I'm the oldest person to ever come in on this song how cool is that ?!!? LOL. Anyway it's my favorite song in a long time.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 13th 1982, "Hold Me" by Fleetwood Mac entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #33; and on July 18th it peaked at #4 (for an amazing 7 weeks) and spent 17 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 10 of those 17 weeks it was on the Top 10)...
It reached #2 in Canada and #3 on Billboard's Rock Songs chart...
Was track three of side two on the group's 13th studio album, 'Mirage', and on August 1st, 1982 the album reached #1 (for 5 weeks) on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart...
Two other tracks from the album also made the Top 100; "Gypsy" (peaked at #12) and "Love In Store" (reached #22).
Andrew from Chicago, IlDefinitely one of the most underrated FM songs. The unique product of that band at that particular time. Might be one of the best harmonies of all time.
Esskayess from Dallas, TxMy favorite song of Christine's, with the unheralded "Isn't It Midnight" (co-written and performed with Buckingham) next in line.
Meocyber from Alma, Co Thanks Constance. I agree Christine was extremely underated. I love her whisky sweet sexy voice. She was an excellent composer and key boardist. It did seem she wasn't a super egomaniac. Dennis Wilson died only 3 years after this.
Rick from Boston, Ma"Hold Me" was co-written by Robbie Patton, who also contributed to her last solo album - along with an army of co-writers. Love Christine, and she's a great songwriter but those who have to slight Stevie's ability as a way of complimenting Christine aren't being fair. From 1982 - on, she has used co-writers for everything of note, except "Everywhere." Christine's 1984 solo album is all co-writes with multiple parties, and two she didn't write at all. She wrote one by herself. 2004 solo disc, she wrote two by herself, multiple co-writes and two songs written by her nephew.
Myla from San Diego, CaAwesome lyrics and music by Christine and lead solo guitar by Buckingham! The fact that this was written about McVie's love affair with Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys would explain the Beach Boy's inspired background vocals in the song ("Come on and ..."Hold me, Hold me..."). It reminds me of the chorus of "Help me Rhonda".
Allan from Asheville, NcThere is no cowbell in this song!
Constance from Dallas, TxChristine is most definetly underrated. She is a great songwriter and has soul and she has her own mysterious style by being so humble and comfortable in her place in Fleetwood not having to be up front all the time.So it makes you wonder about her. She is amazing with that keyboard. I don't think Nicks being the break out star bottered Christine at all. Nicks and her are friends. That makes me like Christine even more. She know her value. You should listen to some of her music with the chicken shack and some of her solo music before Fleetwood. It was blues with a lot of soul.
Madison from Norway, MeI've always liked the way their voices complimented each other on this song.
Christine from Worcester, MaThis is one of my personal fave Mac songs. There are so many unreleased versions of this song, and some of them are just as good, or better than the studio version. I dont like the 'come on and..' part that Lindsey does before Christine sings 'Hold Me...' in the 2 and on chorus'. It needs to be played on the radio instead of Dreams-if I hear that song one more time....lol-and Chris was a MUCH better songwriter than Stevie, and it really sucks how nobody gives her, or even Lindsey the credit they deserve. My favorite Mac songs are all Chris' and all of my favorite Mac solo songs are all Lindseys. And Christine wrote this with somebody else [robbie patton I think], the info can be found on lyrics.com or something like that.
Matt from Raleigh, Nc-by one of the most underrated songwriters of our time - overshadowed, unfortunately by Stevie Nicks. Christine finds the most unique ways of saying "I love you" without actually saying it. All FM albums she's on have great examples of her work. So selfless and poetic.
Nick from Nyc, Nymaybe the most underrated fleetwood mac song?
Alexander from Ciudad Ojeda, South AmericaWilson was addicted to drugs and, in general terms, he was a bad boy but even so, Christine still wanted him to hold her but some think this could be some sort of sexual reference.
It also seems like he had no future at all and she wanted to save him.

Christine says this is just another song when this is actually one of the band's most complicated songs.
Chris from Downers Grove, IlThis was sung as a duet between Christine and Lindsey.
Paul from Newark, DeThis song was written by Christine for her then boyfriend, Beach Boy, Dennis Wilson.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

One Way Or AnotherBlondie

"One Way Or Another" is based on a stalker who creeped out Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry.

Rapper's DelightThe Sugarhill Gang

The first rap song to make the Hot 100 was "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang in 1979. At the time, many considered rap a fad that would soon pass.

I Got You BabeSonny & Cher

Cher had a habit of calling people "babe," which her husband, Sonny Bono, picked up. That's how "babe" landed in the 1965 Sonny & Cher megahit "I Got You Babe."

My Name IsEminem

Eminem's first hit was "My Name Is," which introduced his alter ego, Slim Shady.

Fortunate SonCreedence Clearwater Revival

The Creedence Clearwater Revival song "Fortunate Son" is about how the Vietnam war was being fought by soldiers without the privilege or connections to get out of it. "It's the old saying about rich men making war and poor men having to fight them," John Fogerty said.

Somebody Like YouKeith Urban

When Keith Urban played "Somebody Like You" for his girlfriend, she called him a hypocrite because he "sucked at relationships."