If We Hold on Together

**If We Hold on Together**" is the theme song to the 1988 film *The Land Before Time*, and is performed by American singer Diana Ross. Played during the film's ending credits, it was released on the film's soundtrack as well on Ross' nineteenth studio album, *The Force Behind the Power* (1991). It was also released as the soundtrack's first and only single on November 5, 1988 by MCA. The song was written by James Horner and Will Jennings, and produced by Peter Asher. It reached the top 30 on the US adult contemporary chart, peaked at #23, as well as giving Ross her biggest hit ever in Japan (No. 1) and later reaching No. 11 in the UK. There was no music video promoted for the song.

"If We Hold on Together" was covered by Anndi McAfee and Aria Curzon, the voices of Cera and Ducky in *The Land Before Time* series since the fifth film, for *The Land Before Time: Sing-Along Songs* in 1997. The song was also covered by multi-Na Hoku Hanohano award-winning Hawaiian music artist Keali'i Reichel on his 1995 debut album Kawaipunahele. Jordin Sparks, a winner of *American Idol* season 6 also covered this song.

## Critical reception

The song became a hit in Japan, and remained in the number one position for twelve weeks.

Peter Fawthrop from AllMusic described the song as "a soaring, splendid ballad", noting that it "is somewhat Biblical in its message, "Valley mountain, there is a fountain that washes our tears all away"". Katherine Cusumano from *Bustle* preferred it to "My Heart Will Go On", writing that "it's shamelessly sappy, but it perfectly suits the dinosaur tearjerker it appears in". James Masterton declared it as Ross' "welcome return to the slushy soul ballads only she can do properly". Pan-European magazine *Music & Media* stated: "Ross is the boss when it comes to romantic ballads. This one will have to share the air with all those flying angels during the Christmas period". Rotoscopers said it was the "cherry on top to this great musical score" from James Horner. The site also said it brings the same "endearing" qualities as "Somewhere Out There" from *An American Tail*.

## Lyrics

*Don't lose your way*

*With each passing day*

*You've come so far*

*Don't throw it away*

*Live believing*

*Dreams are for weaving*

*Wonders are waiting to start*

*Live your story*

*Faith, hope and glory*

*Hold to the truth in your heart*

*If we hold on together*

*I know our dreams will never die*

*Dreams see us through to forever*

*Where clouds roll by*

*For you and I*

*Souls in the wind*

*Must learn how to bend*

*Seek out a star*

*Hold on to the end*

*Valley, mountain*

*There is a fountain*

*Washes our tears all away*

*Words are swaying*

*Someone is praying*

*Please let us come home to stay*

*If we hold on together*

*I know our dreams will never die*

*Dreams see us through to forever*

*Where clouds roll by*

*For you and I*

*When we are out there in the dark*

*We'll dream about the sun*

*In the dark we'll feel the light*

*Warm our hearts, everyone*

*If we hold on together*

*I know our dreams will never die*

*Dreams see us through to forever*

*As high as souls can fly*

*The clouds roll by*

*For you and I*