Hold My Hand (song)

"Hold My Hand" is an original theme song performed by Lady Gaga from the soundtrack to the 2022 action drama film Top Gun: Maverick. The track was written and produced by Gaga and BloodPop, with additional production by Benjamin Rice.

Background

The long-awaited sequel to the 1986 film has been in the works for years. It was originally set to release in 2019, but was postponed to “work out all the complex flight sequences.” Then it was delayed once more due to the pandemic. Rumors about Lady Gaga possibly recording an original Top Gun song started in April 2021, when the gossip websites posted a short pieces that speculated that Gaga was involved with the film, but Gaga didn’t publicly acknowledge until April 2022.

On April 25^th, 2022, Gaga teased lyrics from the song, writing, “Hold my hand everything will be OK I heard from the heavens that clouds have been grey” she tweeted. She later wrote, “Pull me close wrap me in your aching arms I see that you’re hurtin’” and “Why’d you take so long to tell me you need me.”

Two days later, she formally announced that the song would be released on May 3^rd, 2022. She stated:

When I wrote this song for Top Gun: Maverick, I didn’t even realize the multiple layers it spanned across the film’s heart, my own psyche, and the nature of the world we’ve been living in. I’ve been working on it for years, perfecting it, trying to make it ours. I wanted to make music into a song where we share our deep need to both be understood and try to understand each other—a longing to be close when we feel so far away and an ability to celebrate life’s heroes. I’m so grateful to Tom and Hans and Joe for this opportunity—and it’s been a beautiful experience working with them. Me, BloodPop, Ben Rice and everyone else who worked on it with us are so excited to share it with you. This song is a love letter to the world during and after a very hard time. I’ve wanted you to hear it for so long. And I’m so excited to give it to you on May 3. “Hold My Hand.”

After the song was nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media in 2022, a special edition of the single was made for the Grammy Academy. Inside, Gaga further explained the meaning of the song:

I wanted to say that I wrote the song for the INCREDIBLE movie top gun maverick but also for people who feel like they're not gonna be ok or we are never gonna be ok and that life taught me through hard times to have faith in humanity when it's hard to have faith in yourself. When you feel lonely, sad, removed from the world, far away from yourself and others. One day you may even be strong enough to hold your own hands. I love you with my whole heart for all the years I've been blessed to sing, write songs, produce and perform for you. Thank you here we go!!

Performances

Dates	Show	Channel

2023
Mar 12	94th Academy Awards	ABC

Tour	Dates	Performances

The Chromatica Ball	2022 (All Dates, Except finale show)	19
	Total of performances	19

Release

Digital release

	Label: Interscope Format: Digital Released: May 3, 2022 Photography: Scott Garfield

#	Name	Time
1.	"Hold My Hand"	3:45

Physical release

Limited Vinyl

	Label: Interscope Format: 12″ LP (UO Exclusive) Released: November 11, 2022 Catalog #: B0036309-11 Barcode: 0602448143624 Photography: Scott Garfield Design: zevos inc.

#	Name	Time
1.	"Hold My Hand"	3:45

Release history

Date	Format	Label	Catalog #	Barcode
May 3, 2022	Digital download • streaming	Interscope	N/A
May 9, 2022	Adult contemporary radio
May 10, 2022	Contemporary hit radio
November 11, 2022	12″ Limited LP (UO Exclusive)		B0036309-11	0602448143624

Lyrics

To tell me you need me

Hold my hand, everything will be okay
I heard from the heavens that clouds have been grey
Pull me close, wrap me in your aching arms
I see that you're hurtin', why'd you take so long

To tell me you need me? I see that you're bleeding
You don't need to show me again
But if you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you
I won't let go 'til the end

So cry tonight
But don't you let go of my hand
You can cry every last tear
I won't leave 'til I understand
Promise me, just hold my hand

Raise your head, look into my wishful eyes
That fear that's inside you will lift, give it time
I can see everything you're blind to now
Your prayers will be answered, let God whisper how

To tell me you need me, I see that you're bleeding
You don't need to show me again
But if you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you
I won't let go 'til the end

So cry tonight
But don't you let go of my hand
You can cry every last tear
I won't leave 'til I understand
Promise you'll just hold my hand

Hold my hand, hold my—
Hold my hand, my hand
I'll be right here, hold my hand
Hold my hand, hold my—
Hold my hand, my hand
I'll be right here, hold my hand

I know you're scared and your pain is imperfect
But don't you give up on yourself
I've heard a story, a girl, she once told me
That I would be happy again

Hold my hand
Hold my hand
Hold my hand, hold my hand
Hold my hand, hold my hand
Hold my hand
I heard from the heavens

Music video

Premiere date	May 6, 2022
Director(s)	Joseph Kosinski
Fashion director	Nicola Formichetti
Choreographer	N/A
Director of photography	Scott Garfield

The music video for "Hold My Hand" was directed by Joseph Kosinski, the director of Top Gun: Maverick. Gaga announced the music video on May 5^th, 2022, with a short teaser clip on social media for release on May 6^th, 2022, at 9AM Pacific Time.

Original bomber jacket from Top Gun (1986) movie which belongs to Tom Cruise, jeans and belt from her own archive, and sunglasses by Ray-Ban.
Flight suit, tank top, and personalized dot tag ballchain necklace from local military surplus store.
Custom dress and cape by LeVer Couture, and vintage army boots.

Merchandise

Main article: Official Merchandise

Credits


Written by	Lady Gaga and Michael Tucker
Produced by	Lady Gaga and BloodPop®
Additional Production	Benjamin Rice
Vocal Produced by	Benjamin Rice
Mixed by	Benjamin Rice and Tom Norris
Mastered by	Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound
Track Participants	Guitar by Tim Stewart
Design by	zevos inc.

Trivia

An Orchestral Arrangement by Hans Zimmer was recorded with softer vocals and is used during the credits of the movie.