The Southern rock genre was revived in the 1980s by the band 38 Special, who simplified the formula into a string of singles fit for the radio. The band’s first Top 40 hit, “Hold on Loosely,” came out in 1981. It also served as a model for the band’s other successes throughout the decade.
The wise book “Hold on Loosely” makes the insightful argument that clinginess in relationships can result from insecurity, which in turn can cause those relationships to end. The first couplet, “You see it all around you / Good loving gone bad,” sets the tone brilliantly. And why does that occur? The narrator recalls an old girlfriend’s words of wisdom: “If you cling too tightly to her, you’re going to lose control.”
The second verse, “To overprotect her / To love her too much,” illustrates how simple it is to fall into this trap while believing you are acting appropriately. Rather, the key is understanding when to back off: Your infant needs a lot of room to breathe and someone to believe in.
“Hold on Loosely” demonstrated that Southern rock could still be successful in the 1980s, provided that performers could stay true to the format and the sleek production lines that were popular at the time. With this song simply the tip of their Platinum-selling iceberg, 38 Special truly had it down pat.
Check out Richard Goodall’s fantastic cover below.