Cold Chisel produced the canonical example of Australian pub rock, with a s… Read Full Bio ↴Cold Chisel produced the canonical example of Australian pub rock, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and they are acknowledged as one of the most popular and successful Australian groups of the period, although this success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to Australia.

The band formed in Adelaide in 1973 as a heavy metal band called Orange around keyboard player Don Walker and original bassist Les Kascmarek and while hard rock remained at the core of their sound Cold Chisel displayed a remarkable versatility. When Kascmarek left in 1975, Walker became the major creative force of the band. Built around Walker's superb songwriting, the group also featured the dazzling guitar and vocal talents of Ian Moss and the enormously powerful lead vocals of Scottish immigrant Jimmy Barnes.

While typically classified as a hard-driving rock and roll band, the Chisel repertoire included such Australian anthems as the landmark Vietnam War song "Khe Sanh", "Bow River", "Flame Trees" and "Saturday Night", but also included thoughtful ballads like "Choir Girl" (written about the subject of abortion), pop-flavoured love songs like "My Baby" and caustic political statements like "Star Hotel", an attack on the late-70s government of Malcolm Fraser and inspired by a riot at a Newcastle pub. The music was not political in context, however Walker's songs were observations of everyday life within the Australian society and culture. One song from this period, "Misfits", which featured on the b-side to "My Baby", was written in the same vein as Chuck Berry, and was about homeless kids in the suburbs surrounding Sydney.

Cold Chisel weren't just a band, they were a lifestyle for many of their followers, who were known as some of the roughest in the land. This gave Chisel their hard living approach to their music and made them a tough live band as well. More than 30 years after they originally played together, they attract generation after generation of new listeners. This is also evidence of Chisel's dominance of the pub rock era. They are the only Australian band to have sold more records after breakup than before and are among other bands that have become transgenerational. "Khe Sanh" consistently ranks highly in lists of Australia's most popular songs and their music remains a staple of rock station playlists. The Ian Moss song "Never Before" (from the East LP) was chosen by FM rock station 2JJJ (Triple Jay) as the first record played on-air when the station made its transition from AM to FM in 1980.

By 1983 the band had reached the zenith of their career in Australia and with overseas markets reluctant to accept them, Cold Chisel began to disintegrate. Their abortive US sojourn was commemorated in Barnes' excoriating rocker "You Got Nothing I Want" from the Circus Animals album, an emotional volume created from the frustration of the band’s experiences overseas.

Increasing internal tensions and the pressures of touring took their toll and Steve Prestwich -- who was often in conflict with Barnes -- left the band, to be replaced by veteran Australian drummer Ray Arnott (ex Spectrum). Shortly afterward, in 1984, Cold Chisel announced their split and a series of farewell concerts, for which Prestwich re-joined. That tour became a legend in itself and was not without incident when Barnes lost his voice before the Sydney shows, which then had to be rescheduled. The band's final performance was filmed for the documentary concert film The Last Stand, which remains to this day the best-selling concert film of any single Australian act.

In mid 2011 the group announced a series of upcoming concerts.

Hold Me Tight
Cold Chisel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hold me tight
Hold me tight
Baby nothing's gonna change this magic night
Well energy we've got to burn
So open up your mouth and take a bite
And hold me tight

Well tellers do it

Tanners do it
The Phantom and Diana do it
Politicians need it twice a night
Presidents and Chauffeurs do it
Terrorists on sofas do it
Movie stars repeat it till it's right
Hold me tight

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
It's over to you

So, tie these arms and legs together
Let's all change this hell for leather
One big happy heart attack
Let all the world's insomniacs unite!

Well Robert Johnson knew it
Chaplin knew it
Even Marx and Lenin knew it
Heisenberg was just a voyeur
The Hallelujah Chorus do it
Ayatollahs always do it
Come on, slam the door

Let's get it right
Hold me tight

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Cold Chisel's song Hold Me Tight is about the intense desire to be close to someone on a magical night. The singer urges the listener to hold them tightly as they burn with energy, and to participate in the passion of the moment by taking a bite. The chorus features a description of various individuals, from singers to politicians, who also crave the intimacy that the singer is urging.

The song is an anthem for the power of physical intimacy and the importance of grasping onto the magical moments when they present themselves. It is a call to experience life to the fullest and to not let those moments slip away. The chorus is a reminder to take advantage of the moment and hold on tight, as it will not last forever. The different professions mentioned in the song are used to highlight that nobody is immune to the desire for physical connection.

Overall, the song portrays the importance of embracing passion and the value of human connection. It encourages listeners to seize the moment and cherish those who create the magic in our lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Hold me tight
The singer wants someone to embrace them and hold them tightly.

Hold me tight
The singer repeats their request for someone to hold them tightly.

Baby nothing's gonna change this magic night
The singer believes that this is a special and unforgettable night that will always be remembered.

Well energy we've got to burn
There is a lot of energy that needs to be expended.

So open up your mouth and take a bite
The artist is inviting someone to participate with them, to seize the moment.

And hold me tight
The singer repeats their request for someone to hold them tightly.

Well tellers do it
There is a broad range of people who embrace one another.

Tanners do it
Even people with occupations that are physically demanding can still show affection.

The Phantom and Diana do it
Even fictional characters can display loving gestures.

Politicians need it twice a night
Even those in powerful positions desire intimacy on a regular basis.

Presidents and Chauffeurs do it
Even people from different walks of life and social classes can be affectionate.

Terrorists on sofas do it
Even those who are typically portrayed as villains may still seek intimacy and love.

Movie stars repeat it till it's right
Even those with a lot of fame and wealth can struggle to find true love.

Hold me tight
The singer repeats their request for someone to hold them tightly.

It's over to you
The singer is handing control over to someone else, to decide whether to embrace them or not.

So, tie these arms and legs together
The artist is asking to be physically restrained, to heighten the experience of intimacy.

Let's all change this hell for leather
The artist wants to replace any negative feelings with positive ones and fully commit to the act of love.

One big happy heart attack
The singer is emphasizing their passionate and intense desire for love and affection.

Let all the world's insomniacs unite!
The singer is suggesting that love and intimacy can help people overcome sleepless nights and achieve peace.

Well Robert Johnson knew it
Even influential figures throughout history recognized the importance of love and intimacy.

Chaplin knew it
Even entertainers and comedic actors understand the value of love and affection.

Even Marx and Lenin knew it
Even political thinkers recognized the significance of love and affection as part of human existence.

Heisenberg was just a voyeur
Heisenberg is used as an example of someone who may have just observed or witnessed intimacy, rather than experiencing it themselves.

The Hallelujah Chorus do it
Even large performing groups, such as choirs, may share moments of intimacy and love.

Ayatollahs always do it
Even religious leaders and figures may seek and show affection.

Come on, slam the door
The singer is urging their partner to fully commit to what they are doing, and to do it loudly and boldly.

Let's get it right
The singer wants this moment to be successful and special, to truly experience love and affection.

Hold me tight
The artist repeats their request for someone to hold them tightly.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Don Walker

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS