I wrote this song back in the 90's; I was attending Augusta College's (in West Virginia) wonderful Vocal Week, and taking a songwriting class led by Bob Franke. He went around the room asking people what they wanted to get from the class; when it was my turn, I said that I had a tendency to write songs that were clever and wordy, and I'd like to write something simple and moving. "Write something from a child's point of view," he said. This was the result.

As a kid, I did actually climb onto a step-stool and drop a jar full of peanut butter to see if it would break (it's "jelly" in the song because "peanut butter" was too many syllables). I had seen the word "shatterproof" on the label, and – not clear on the distinction between "shatterproof" and "unbreakable" – been wondering about it for months, thinking "It sure looks like it would break!" Finally, one afternoon when Mom wasn't home, I decided I had to test it out. When it broke, I was quite disappointed, and decided it was just another case of false advertising.

When she got home, Mom was pretty good about it: "Vikki, why? she asked.

"It said shatterproof!" I complained.

She left it at that. Thanks Mom!

As usual, a very rough recording can be heard on SoundCloud: Hold On Tight

Hold On Tight
©~1992? Vikki Appleton Fielden

After Mom and Dad have tucked me in at night
I sneak out a book and find my old flashlight
Or I lie real quiet 'cos my dolls watch me
They wait to walk and talk until I'm fast asleep

Hold on tight, don't let go
It's all right, Mama told me so

Mom buys jelly in a jar that's shatterproof
But the label doesn't really tell the truth
I stood on a chair and let the jelly fall
Now it's on the floor and on the kitchen wall

Hold on tight, don't let go
It's all right, Mama told me so

Yesterday at recess in a dodgeball game
Girls against the boys, it always ends the same
Katherine, the shyest one, was standing quietly
Jimmy whipped the ball and hit her right below the knees
Kathy fell onto her knees and never made a sound
Hands pressed to her mouth and the tears rollin' down
Daddy says that cryin' is a baby thing to do
But if it was me, I know that I'd cry too

Hold on tight, don't let go
It's all right, Mama told me so

Did you ever dream that when the sun goes down
Gravity is gone and you can't reach the ground?
Everything gets smaller as you float away
Higher up and higher till you're lost in outer space

Hold on tight, don't let go
It's all right, Mama told me so

Mama runs her fingers through my hair
Daddy doesn't like to see me cry
I know they love me, but
I don't know why

Now I see you drifting far away from me
Should I hold on tight or should I let you be
Hold me in your arms and tell me not to cry
and we will pretend that everything's all right

Hold on tight, don't let go
It's all right, Mama told me so
Hold on tight, don't let go
It's all right, Mama told me so