"Hold On Tight" is a song written and performed by English rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). The song is track 12 on the band's 1981 album Time and was released as its lead single. The song entered the top 10 in several countries, topping the charts of Spain and Switzerland, peaking at number four in the United Kingdom, and reaching number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. A verse sung in French, which is a reprise of the first verse, translates as "Hold on to your dream, Hold on to your dream, When you see your ship leaving, When you feel your heart breaking, Hold on to your dream".
Billboard called it an "affectionate tip-of-the-hat to '50s rock 'n' roll" that was inspired by "Jerry Lee Lewis' pumping piano style." Record World said it has "rockabilly lead vocals, soaring Beach Boys harmonies, patented ELO keyboard waves, and a good time for all." In its review of the album, Rolling Stone said that with its "synthesized rock & roll cellos" the song is an "all-weather [single] for the here and now."
At the time of its release, the song's music video was the most expensive ever made, with a budget of approximately ã40,000. The mostly black and white video features footage of ELO playing the song in a lounge, intercut with scenes in the style of 1940s serial films featuring the band members, including violinist Mik Kaminski, who was no longer a band member nor had actually played on this song, "playing" a guitar.
The song was the theme song for the National Coffee Association's "Join the Coffee Achievers" television commercials which ran in 1983 and 1984.