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John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band
About Hold On
"Hold On" is a song from the album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band by John Lennon. It features only vocals, tremolo guitar, drums, and bass guitar, typical of the sparse arrangements Lennon favoured at the time. On the 2000 reissue of John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, "Hold On" features a slightly longer introduction. The original version was restored on the 2010 reissue. Described as "the most upbeat song on [Plastic Ono Band]", the song's theme is emotional fragility, as the lyrics state that when you're alone in the world you just have to "hold on. " Lennon tries to assure himself that he and wife Yoko Ono have the strength to overcome their challenges, and if he holds on, "it's gonna be all right" and "we're gonna win the fight." Lennon explicitly namechecks himself and Yoko Ono, but author Andrew Jackson does not believe that this detracts from the universality of the message. Indeed, towards the end of the song Lennon expands the subject to encompass the whole world, singing that peace will be achievable when everyone will "see the light" and realize that we are all "one."Musically, Lennon plays his guitar gently, applying tremolo, in an effect that Jackson states matches "the soothing reassurance of the lyrics." Recorded at EMI Studios on 30 September 1970, Lennon took 32 takes experimenting with different approaches before hitting on this one. However, music critics Wilfrid Mellers and Johnny Rogan state that other elements of the music create some tension with the reassuring message. These elements include Ringo Starr's "jittery" drumming, with many silences, and the fragmented vocal melody, which break up the sentences of the lyrics. In the middle of the song, Lennon mutters the word "cookie", imitating the Cookie Monster from the US children's television show Sesame Street. Lennon has explained the song as follows:more »
- Year:
- 2010
- 1:50
- 1,044Views
- Playlists:
- #2
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Hold on JohnJohn hold on, it's gonna be alrightYou're gonna win the fightHold on YokoYoko hold on, it's gonna be alrightYou gonna make the flightWhen you're by yourselfAnd there's no one elseYou just have yourselfAnd you tell yourselfJust to hold on(Cookie) (cookie)Hold on worldWorld hold on, it's gonna be alrightYou're gonna see the lightOh, and when you're oneReally oneWell you get things doneLike they never been doneSo hold on
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John Lennon
John Ono Lennon MBE, born John Winston Lennon (9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was an English musician, singer and songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as a founder, and member of the Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Together with Paul McCartney, he formed one of the most celebrated songwriting partnerships of the 20th century.Lennon left the Beatles at the end of the sixties soon after meeting Yoko Ono. He formed the Plastic Ono Band and continued a succesful solo career recording until 1975, when his second child Sean Lennon was born. In 1980, with the release of the LP "Double Fantasy," Lennon was once more in the publice eye. Lennon passed away after being shot b… more »
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Sheet Music PDF Playlist
Written by: John Winston Lennon
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Release Chronology Fact"Hold On" is the third track on John Lennon's first official solo album, "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band", which was released in 1970. |
Song Duration FactThe song is relatively short, with a runtime of only 1 minute and 52 seconds. |
Composition Fact"Hold On" is characterized by its minimalistic arrangement. It primarily features Lennon's voice accompanied by a simple guitar melody and rhythm. |
Inspirational FactThe song reflects John Lennon's approach to dealing with life's struggles and pressures – containing a message of hope and perseverance. |
Performance FactJohn Lennon plays a tremolo effect on his guitar during the solo, and he is the only musician who played on this track. |
Famous Quote FactThe song is known for the phrase "cookie", it was an impromptu addition by Lennon, said to be a reference to Cookie Monster from the TV show Sesame Street. |
Album Cohesion FactLike the majority of the songs on the "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" album, "Hold On" is primarily centered around Lennon's personal and emotional struggles. |
Title Fact"Hold On" is also referred to as "Hold On John", especially when distinguishing from the other song of the same name on Lennon's album. |
Song Theme FactThe lyrics of "Hold On" portray resilience and suggest the notion of embracing life with all its ups and downs. Lennon assures listeners that they are not alone in their struggles. |
Recording FactThe song was reportedly recorded in just two takes, and is prized for its raw and authentic feel. |
Cover Versions FactDespite being less known than many of Lennon's other songs, "Hold On" has been covered by artists like Eddie Vedder and Toto. |
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