Holly Holy

Neil Diamond

About Holly Holy

"Holly Holy" is a song written and recorded by Neil Diamond with instrumental backing provided by the American Sound Studio house band in Memphis. Released as a single on October 13, 1969, it was a successful follow-on to "Sweet Caroline", reaching #6 on the U. S. pop singles chart by December. The song also reached #5 on the Easy Listening chart. It became a gold record and then eventually a platinum record. A work with a spiritual focus, "Holly Holy" was influenced by gospel music and was Diamond's favorite of the songs he had written to that point. It begins quietly with acoustic guitar against a bass line, with the sparse lyric stretched with elongated vowels. Gradually the arrangement builds with a tempo shift in the bridge and a backing choir against strings lasting throughout. "Holly Holy" was later included on Diamond's November 1969 album Touching You, Touching Me. It has been included in live versions on Diamond's Hot August Night (from 1972) and Greatest Hits: 1966–1992 (from 1992) as well as various compilations. 


Year:
1983
28 
#2

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Holly holy eyes
Dream of only you
Where I am, what I am
What I believe in
Holly holy
Holly holy dream
Wanting only you
And she comes
And I run just like the wind will
Holly holy

Sing a song
Sing a song of songs
Sing it out
Sing it strong

Call the sun in the dead of the night
And the sun's gonna rise in the sky
Touch a man who can't walk upright
And that lame man, he's gonna fly
And I fly
And I fly

Holly holy love
Take the lonely child
And the seed
Let it be filled with tomorrow
Holly holy

Sing a song
Sing a song of songs
Sing it out
Sing it strong

Call the sun in the dead of the night
And the sun's gonna rise in the sky
Touch a man who can't walk upright
And that lame man, he's gonna fly
And I fly, yeah
And I fly

Holly holy dream
Dream of only you
Holly holy love
Holly holy love

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Neil Diamond

Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present. As of 2001, Diamond had sold over 115 million records worldwide including 48 million in the United States alone. He is considered to be the third most successful adult contemporary artist ever on the Billboard chart behind Barbra Streisand and Elton John. His songs have been covered internationally by many performers from various musical genres. more »

11 fans

Written by: NEIL DIAMOND

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


9 facts about this song

Artist Background
"Holly Holy" is a song written and recorded by Neil Diamond, who is known for a variety of hit songs from pop to rock to folk and even country music. Neil Diamond is one of the biggest selling musicians of all time, with over 100 million records sold worldwide in his more than five-decade-long career.
Song Information
"Holly Holy" was released in 1969 as a single and then later included in the album "Touching You, Touching Me". It reached number 6 on the Billboard charts in the United States.
Lyrics
The song has deeply spiritual and uplifting lyrics. Neil Diamond has said that the song was "not specific to any religion or faith", and was inspired by gospel music and spirituals.
Song Style
"Holly Holy" is known for its dynamic structure, building from a quiet opening to a powerful and jubilant climax. This song also stands out for its soulful and gospel-infused sound, compared to the pop feel of many of Diamond’s other hits.
Cover Versions
Numerous artists have covered "Holly Holy". It was famously covered in a soulful, reggae version by UB40 in 1998. It has also been performed by artists like Junior Walker & The All Stars, The Brothers Four, and even the contemporary pop-rock band, Lifehouse.
Live Performances
"Holly Holy" has been a staple in Neil Diamond’s live performances. It was a show-stopping number on his Hot August Night concerts, and one of the highlights of the Hot August Night NYC concert in August 2008.
Version in Movie
A version of "Holly Holy" was included in the movie "Saving Silverman," which was a comedic tribute to Neil Diamond, showing his influence in popular culture.
Remix
In 2009, the song was remixed by "Playboy" and "Jay-Z" producer, DJ Cipha Sounds. This reaffirms the timeless appeal of "Holly Holy," more than four decades after the original release. This version of the song was called "Holly Holy C&S version" and was celebrated for its musical innovation.
Awards and Nominations
Although the song didn't win any awards, it contributed to Neil Diamond's nominations for the American Music Awards and his stellar reputation as a songwriter and performer. It is often considered an iconic song in his discography.

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    Holly Holy

    4.7M
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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1969

    Billboard #6


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