Hold on Loosely

Album: Wild-Eyed Southern Boys (1981)
Charted: 27
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  • You see it all around you
    Good lovin' gone bad
    And usually it's too late when you, realize what you had
    And my mind goes back to a girl I left some years ago (who told me)

    Just hold on loosely
    But don't let go
    If you cling too tightly
    You're gonna lose control

    Your baby needs someone to believe in
    And a whole lot of space to breathe in

    It's so damn easy, when your feelings are such
    To overprotect her, to love her too much
    And my mind goes back to a girl I left some years ago (who told me)

    Just hold on loosely
    But don't let go
    If you cling too tight babe
    You're gonna loose control
    Your baby needs someone to believe in
    And a whole lot of space to breathe in
    Don't let her slip away

    Sentimental fool
    Don't let your heart get in her way
    Yeah, yeah, yeah

    You see it all around you
    Good lovin' gone bad
    And usually it's too late when you, realize what you had

    Just hold on loosely
    But don't let go
    If you cling too tightly
    You're gonna lose control
    Your baby needs someone to believe in
    And a whole lot of space to breathe in
    Just hold on loosely
    But don't let go
    If you cling too tight babe
    You're gonna lose it
    You're gonna, lose control

    Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

    Just hold on loosely
    But don't let go
    If you cling too tight, babe
    You're gonna loose control

    Hold on loosely
    But don't let go
    If you cling too tightly to her
    You're gonna loose control
    Yeah, yeah, yeah Writer/s: James Peterik, Jeff Carlisi, Richard Donald Barnes
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 16

  • Meocyber from Alma, Co Brandon, excellent take on the song. It's totally about not overdoing your feelings for a woman. Give her breathing room. They we're an underated Southern rock band. Tough competition then... The Allman Brothers, Lynard Skynard, Molly Hatchett, Little Feat etc etc.
  • Jim from Pleasant Hill, CaThose who think this is about a hand job can't be very bright. Why do some people have to see sexual innuendo in every last thing? That concept never would have occurred to me and makes no sense in the context of the other lyrics.

    A minor criticism of this song is that the first appearance of the main refrain ("my mind goes back to a girl...") seems rushed at only 30 seconds in. Usually, in this style of rock, they take longer to build up to the big hook - for dramatic effect.
  • Samuel from Singapore, SingaporeThe rhythm to this song, which counts in eights, was inspired by The Car's Just What I Needed.
  • Lisa from Milwaukee, Wi, WiYou could not possibly have listened to this song and thought it was about masturbation. LISTEN TO ALL the lyrics. Doesn't take a genius
  • Colleen from Reno, NvSo my boyfriend just brought up the fact that he thinks this song is about masturbation as well & I didn't beleive him! So I went online in search of an answer and found this page...and Cody's remarks. According to my boyfriend, everyone in the town where he grew up thinks this song is about that ever popular male act. I'm happy to see that the majority of people don't think this! I read the lyrics myself and it just looks like it's about the conclusion that to make a relationship work you have to 'hold on loosely' (to the RELATIONSHIP!) as to not control the other person. Of course I can see why some would think the first part of the chorus was about jerking off - but dam, read the rest of the lyrics & you'll find out the subject isn't that warped!
  • Eugene from Minneapolis, MnBrandon, you right on the money, man. I had to learn this the hard way in 1994, one of the worst years of my life, really. Ironiclly, I ended the relationship. As for the record this one 80s AOR classic.
  • Dale from Santa Fe, NmY'all make me laugh. Good song though.
  • Joshua from Kingston Springs, Tndescribes my first relationship and how it ended...er,make that just how it ended...*crys miserably and falls to the floor*
  • Allison from Bedford, VaThey kind of remind me of Boston.
  • Mary from Cleveland, OhHey Cody..i thought it was about a guy getting a hand job from some chick who didn't know what she was doing. I guess we are just gutter heads. But now that i read Brandons comment..it makes much more sense!=] ha
  • Bob Santini from Modesto, CaI saw them yesterday, it was the worst concert ever
  • Michael from San Diego, CaTerrific song! It's hard to believe that teh same guy who fronted "Survivor" also wrote this, but apparently Jim Peterik is kicking butt in two different genres of music!
  • Brandon from Peoria, IlThis song is about the delicate balance between loving just enough and loving too much. If you have ever been in a relationship that ended because the other party needed space, or he/she said that he/she was being "smothered" than this song relates to you. You need to give your better half some room to breathe, but not too much or you will fade out of his/her life. So make sure you hold on...but only loosely...don't be to controling. That's my interpretation. I welcome comments/suggestions/critisism. Thanks
  • Donna from Chicago, IlI just wanted to say, Cody, please listen to the lyrics and put the lotion away before making such lewd and ignorant comments.
  • Cody from Clarendon Hills, IlDoes anybody else think that this song is about masturbation?
  • Kim from Hays, KsI saw them perform at a concert a few months ago. They were pretty good but the lead singer's voice kept squeeking and he had to stop singing for a while :( it was kind of sad because they have been in that band for a long time.
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