Hold on Tight ( Electric Light Orchestra song ) - wikipedia Hold on Tight ( Electric Light Orchestra song ) `` Hold On Tight '' Single by Electric Light Orchestra from the album Time B - side `` When Time Stood Still '' Released 17 July 1981 ( UK ) July 1981 ( US ) Format 7 '' single Recorded 1981 at Musicland Studios, Munich Genre Rock and roll Length 3 : 06 Label Jet Songwriter ( s ) Jeff Lynne Producer ( s ) Jeff Lynne Electric Light Orchestra singles chronology `` Do n't Walk Away '' ( 1980 ) `` Hold On Tight '' ( 1981 ) `` Twilight '' ( 1981 ) `` Do n't Walk Away '' ( 1980 ) `` Hold On Tight '' ( 1981 ) `` Twilight '' ( 1981 ) Time track listing 13 tracks Side one `` Prologue '' `` Twilight '' `` Yours Truly, 2095 '' `` Ticket to the Moon '' `` The Way Life 's Meant to Be '' `` Another Heart Breaks '' Side two `` Rain Is Falling '' `` From the End of the World '' `` The Lights Go Down '' `` Here Is the News '' `` 21st Century Man '' `` Hold on Tight '' `` Epilogue '' Music video `` Hold On Tight '' on YouTube `` Hold On Tight '' is a song written and performed by Electric Light Orchestra ( ELO ). The song is track twelve on the band 's 1981 album Time and was the first song released as a single. The song went top ten in most countries, hitting the top spot in Spain and Switzerland, number two in Germany, number four in the UK, and number ten on the US Billboard Hot 100, as well as number two on the US Billboard Top Tracks chart the week of 12 September 1981. A verse sung in French, which is a reprise of the first verse, translates as `` Hang on to your dream, Hang on to your dream, When you see your boat leaving, When you feel your heart breaking, Hang on to your dream ''. Contents 1 Music video 2 Uses in other media 3 Chart performance 3.1 Weekly charts 3.2 Year - end charts 4 See also 5 References 6 External links Music video At the time, the song 's music video was the most expensive ever made, with a budget of approximately £ 40,000. 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. Uses in other media It was the theme song for the National Coffee Association 's `` Join the Coffee Achievers '' television commercials which ran in 1983 and 1984. Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 1981 -- 1982 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 5 Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) 6 France ( IFOP ) 24 Germany ( Official German Charts ) Ireland ( IRMA ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 5 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 10 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 7 Norway ( VG - lista ) 7 South Africa ( Springbok Radio ) Spain ( AFE ) Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) 10 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) US Billboard Hot 100 10 US Billboard Top Tracks US Cash Box 8 US Record World 10 Year - end charts Chart ( 1981 ) Rank Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 32 Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 6 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 39 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) 38 Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 42 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 49 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) US Billboard Hot 100 81 US Cash Box 55 See also List of number - one singles of 1982 ( Spain ) List of number - one singles of the 1980s ( Switzerland ) References Jump up ^ `` Electric Light Orchestra -- Time ''. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 17 April 2008. ^ Jump up to : `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 June 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` Rock Albums & Top Tracks ''. Billboard. 12 September 1981. p. 30. ISSN 0006 - 2510. Jump up ^ UK Midlands Central TV News, August 1981 Jump up ^ https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/02/business/advertisingn-r-kleinfield-campaign-seeks-lift-for-coffee.html ( September 2, 1983 ). `` Advertising N.R. Kleinfield Campaign Seeks Lift for Coffee ''. The New York Times. access - date = requires url = ( help ) Jump up ^ Kent, David ( 1993 ). Australian Chart Book 1970 -- 1992. St Ives, N.S.W. : Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0 - 646 - 11917 - 6. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Electric Light Orchestra -- Hold On Tight '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 5 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Electric Light Orchestra -- Hold On Tight '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Singles : Issue 0392. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 June 2013. Jump up ^ `` Le Détail par Artiste '' ( in French ). InfoDisc. Select `` Electric Light Orchestra '' from the artist drop - down menu. Retrieved 20 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- Electric Light Orchestra -- Hold On Tight ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- Hold On Tight ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- Electric Light Orchestra - Hold On Tight '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Electric Light Orchestra -- Hold On Tight '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Charts.nz -- Electric Light Orchestra -- Hold On Tight ''. Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 5 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- Electric Light Orchestra -- Hold On Tight ''. VG - lista. Retrieved 5 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 -- 1989 Acts ( E ) ''. Rock.co.za. Retrieved 29 April 2013. Jump up ^ Salaverri, Fernando ( September 2005 ). Sólo éxitos : año a año, 1959 -- 2002 ( in Spanish ) ( 1st ed. ). Spain : Fundación Autor - SGAE. ISBN 84 - 8048 - 639 - 2. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- Electric Light Orchestra -- Hold On Tight ''. Singles Top 100. Retrieved 5 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Electric Light Orchestra -- Hold On Tight ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Billboard Hot 100 ''. Billboard. 3 October 1981. p. 68. ISSN 0006 - 2510. Jump up ^ `` CASH BOX Top 100 Singles -- Week ending October 3, 1981 ''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012... Cash Box magazine. Jump up ^ `` Record World Singles '' ( PDF ). Record World. 26 September 1981. p. 23. Retrieved 9 September 2017. Jump up ^ `` Forum -- ARIA Charts : Special Occasion Charts -- Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts -- 1980s ''. Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Jahreshitparade 1981 '' ( in German ). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Jaaroverzichten 1981 '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Singles of 1981 ''. RPM. Vol. 35 no. 22. 26 December 1981. Retrieved 20 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 - Jaaroverzicht van 1981 '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` End of Year Charts 1981 ''. Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 6 December 2015. Jump up ^ `` Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1981 '' ( in German ). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits for 1981 ''. The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 5 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` The CASH BOX Year - End Charts : 1981 ''. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012... Cash Box magazine. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Electric Light Orchestra singles discography 1970s 1972 `` 10538 Overture '' / `` First Movement ( Jumping Biz ) '' `` Mr. Radio '' ( withdrawn ) 1973 `` Roll Over Beethoven '' / `` Queen of the Hours '' `` Showdown '' / `` In Old England Town ( Instrumental ) '' `` Ma - Ma - Ma Belle '' / `` Daybreaker '' ( US ) `` Ma - Ma - Ma Belle '' / `` Oh No Not Susan '' ( UK ) `` Ca n't Get It Out of My Head '' / `` Illusions in G Major '' `` Boy Blue '' / `` Eldorado '' `` Evil Woman '' / `` 10538 Overture ( live ) '' 1976 `` Strange Magic '' / `` New World Rising '' ( US ) `` Nightrider '' / `` Daybreaker ( live ) '' `` Strange Magic '' / `` Showdown ( live ) '' ( UK ) `` Livin ' Thing '' / `` Ma - Ma - Ma Belle '' ( US ) `` Livin ' Thing '' / `` Fire On High '' ( UK ) 1977 `` Rockaria ! '' / `` Poker '' `` Do Ya '' / `` Nightrider '' `` Telephone Line '' / `` Poor Boy ( The Greenwood ) '' ( US ) `` Telephone Line '' / `` Poor Boy ( The Greenwood ) '' and `` King of the Universe '' ( UK ) `` Turn to Stone '' / `` Mister Kingdom '' 1978 `` Mr. Blue Sky '' / `` One Summer Dream '' `` Sweet Talkin ' Woman '' / `` Fire On High '' ( US ) `` Wild West Hero '' / `` Eldorado '' `` Sweet Talkin ' Woman '' / `` Bluebird is Dead '' ( UK ) `` It 's Over '' / `` The Whale '' The ELO EP 1979 `` Shine a Little Love '' / `` Jungle '' `` The Diary of Horace Wimp '' / `` Down Home Town '' `` Do n't Bring Me Down '' / `` Dreaming of 4000 '' `` Confusion '' / `` Last Train to London '' ( UK ) `` Confusion '' / `` Poker '' ( US ) `` Last Train to London '' / `` Down Home Town '' ( US ) 1980s 1980 `` I 'm Alive '' / `` Drum Dreams '' `` Xanadu '' ( duet with Olivia Newton - John ) / `` Fool Country '' ( Olivia Newton - John ) ( UK ) `` Xanadu '' ( with Olivia Newton - John ) / `` Whenever You 're Away from Me '' ( Olivia Newton - John ) ( US ) `` All Over the World '' / `` Midnight Blue '' ( UK ) `` All Over the World '' / `` Drum Dreams '' ( US ) `` Do n't Walk Away '' / `` Across the Border '' 1981 `` Hold On Tight '' / `` When Time Stood Still '' `` Twilight '' / `` Julie Do n't Live Here '' 1982 `` Here Is the News '' / `` Ticket to the Moon '' `` Rain Is Falling '' / `` Another Heart Breaks '' `` The Way Life 's Meant to Be '' / `` Wishing '' `` Rock ' n ' Roll Is King '' / `` After All '' `` Secret Messages '' / `` Buildings Have Eyes '' `` Four Little Diamonds '' / `` Letter from Spain '' `` Stranger '' / `` Train of Gold '' 1986 `` Calling America '' / `` Caught in a Trap '' `` So Serious '' / `` Endless Lies '' ( US ) `` So Serious '' / `` A Matter of Fact '' ( UK ) `` Getting to the Point '' / `` Secret Lives '' 1990s `` Destination Unknown '' ( promo ) 2000s `` Alright '' / `` Love Changes All '' / `` Do Ya '' ( Unedited Alternative Mix ) `` Moment in Paradise '' / `` Alright '' ( PBS 2001 Version ) / `` Mr. Blue Sky '' ( PBS 2001 Version ) / `` Livin ' Thing '' ( PBS 2001 Version ) 2006 `` Surrender '' 2007 `` Latitude 88 North '' 2010s 2015 `` When I Was a Boy '' Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hold_On_Tight_(Electric_Light_Orchestra_song)&oldid=839138763 '' Categories : 1981 singles 1981 songs Alvin and the Chipmunks songs Electric Light Orchestra songs Jet Records singles Multilingual songs Number - one singles in Spain Number - one singles in Switzerland British rock - and - roll songs Song recordings produced by Jeff Lynne Songs written by Jeff Lynne Hidden categories : Pages using citations with accessdate and no URL CS1 French - language sources ( fr ) CS1 Spanish - language sources ( es ) CS1 German - language sources ( de ) CS1 Dutch - language sources ( nl ) Use dmy dates from November 2013 Use British English from November 2013 Music infoboxes with malformed table placement Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats All articles lacking reliable references Articles lacking reliable references from April 2016 Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Canadatopsingles Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart making named ref Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español Français Italiano 日本 語 Norsk nynorsk Edit links This page was last edited on 1 May 2018, at 14 : 36 ( UTC ). 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Question: who wrote hold on tight to your dreams
Answer: Jeff Lynne