Holly Holy

"Holly Holy" is a song written and recorded by Neil Diamond. Released as a single in October 1969,^[1] it was quite successful as the follow-on to "Sweet Caroline", reaching number 6 on the U.S. pop singles chart by December.^[2]^[3] It became a gold record and then eventually platinum.^[1]

A work with a spiritual focus,^[4] "Holly Holy" was influenced by gospel music^[1] and was Diamond's favorite of the songs he had written to that point.^[3] It begins quietly with acoustic guitar against a bass line, with the sparse lyric stretched with elongated vowels. Gradually the arrangement builds up 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.^[1] 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 in various compilations.

A treatment of "Holly Holy" by Jr. Walker & the All Stars was a modest R&B hit in 1971.^[1]

Nancy Sinatra covered the song for her second TV special, "Movin' with Nancy on Stage" in 1971.

"Holly Holy" was covered in 1998 by UB40.

"Holly Holy" was a key soundtrack song in "Holy Smoke!" ^[5]

In Here Comes the Boom, it is sung by Charice.

Another definition of "holly" is "totally". The title of the song means: "Totally Holy"

Lyrics

As mentioned above, the song draws upon gospel music for inspiration, and is particularly noted for its inspiring gospel style lyrics (see below)^[6]

Colored [i.e. Jewish] Son in the dead of the night
Oh the Son'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

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 William Ruhlmann. "Neil Diamond: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
↑ Whitburn, Joel (1983). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: 1955 to present. Billboard Publications. ISBN 0-8230-7511-7. p. 88.
↑ 3.0 3.1 Jackson, Laura (2005). Neil Diamond: His Life, His Music, His Passion. ECW Press. ISBN 1-55022-707-6. pp. 65–66.
↑ Neil McCormick (2008-03-05). "Neil Diamond: the hurt, the dirt, the shirts". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
↑ Holy Smoke (1999) - Soundtracks
↑

v t e Neil Diamond singles discography

Singles 1960s	1962 "You Are My Love at Last" "I'm Afraid" 1963 "At Night" 1966 "Solitary Man" "Cherry, Cherry" "I Got the Feelin' (Oh No No)" 1967 "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" "Thank the Lord for the Night Time" "Kentucky Woman" "Some Day Baby" 1968 "New Orleans" "Red, Red Wine" "Brooklyn Roads" "Two-Bit Manchild" "Shilo" "Sunday Sun" 1969 "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show" "Sweet Caroline" "Holly Holy"

Singles 1970s	1970 "Shilo" "Until It's Time for You to Go" "Soolaimon" "And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind" "Solitary Man" "Cracklin' Rosie" "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" "Do It" 1971 "I Am...I Said" "Done Too Soon" "I'm a Believer" "Stones" 1972 "Song Sung Blue" "Play Me" "Walk on Water" 1973 "Cherry, Cherry" "The Long Way Home" "The Last Thing on My Mind" "Be" 1974 "Skybird" "Longfellow Serenade" 1975 "Morningside" "I've Been This Way Before" "The Last Picasso" 1976 "If You Know What I Mean" "Don't Think...Feel" "Beautiful Noise" 1977 "Stargazer" "Lady-Oh" "Desiree" 1978 "God Only Knows" "Let Me Take You In My Arms Again" "I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight" "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" "The Dancing Bumble Bee / Bumble Boogie" 1979 "Forever in Blue Jeans" "Say Maybe" "The American Popular Song" "September Mom"

Singles 1980s	1980 "That Kind" "The Good Lord Loves You" "Dancing in the Street" "Love on the Rocks" 1981 "Hello Again" "America" "Yesterday's Songs" 1982 "On the Way to the Sky" "Be Mine Tonight" "Rainy Day Song" "Heartlight" 1983 "I'm Alive" "Turn Around"

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