I chose to record "Hold Dearly to Me" because the very first time I heard it, that song brought me to tears.  So many of Mike Roe's songs seem to be talking about me and "Hold Dearly to Me" especially spoke to me and about me.  I have heard it from many fans over the years that Mike's songs seem to be talking right at them and about them, and I am among them.  I have been a fan of the 77s and anything to do with them since 1984 when I first found "Ping Pong."  It has been a wonderful journey following the 7s thru all these years.  Living in Idaho, I had never had the opportunity to see them live, until this last July, 2004 in Eugene, OR.  It was an awesome experience and ranks in my top 3 concerts of all time.  I got to meet a few 7s heads from the 77s message board over that weekend and that made the experience even more meaningful for me. 

I recorded the song on my Fender Telecaster thru a Line6 Flextone III XL amplifier.  It took me a few takes on the guitar parts and I'm still not even close to happy with them.  I did the vocal in two takes and after the first take I knew it wasn't going to get much better.  I'm not much of a singer. 

I would like to say thank you to Mike, Mark and Bruce for continuing on with 77s when there for a while it seemed that they were gone.  You three and the other former members of the band have meant a lot to me over the years and have kept me interested in Christian music when there wasn't much reason to have that interest other than the 77s.  I pray that you guys will continue to make music for a long, long time.  Thank you. 

Todd Wright

Hold Dearly To Me

from the album "Safe As Milk"

(Michael Roe) © 1994 7 & 7 Is Music (ASCAP)


what do you do when you're in total frustration?
what do you do when you're in total despair?
what can you say when you dial that number and the only
person you want to talk to is never really, really quite there?

this person cannot bring me happiness
this person cannot bring me joy
Gracious God lift me higher, let me see your beautiful face
i gotta know who my true friends are and
where's my home sweet home

many nights i've wandered alone down this street of pain
many days i've stumbled out into the darkness of daylight
many years i've wandered, wondering just where i'll end up
in a festering heap of flames or a shivering cold cold night

good God almighty scoop me up and set me free
let me walk in Your forgiveness make a man out of me
Lord i've been jumping at shadows, like a snake i've been eating my tail
let me trip, let me stumble but please don't let me fail

i'm a fly by night, i'm a dog by day
i've got a room full of beautiful memories
growing old and in the way
i got a heart that's been broken over and over again
some by lovers, some by brothers, but most of all by my own dirty little hands

let me sit at your holy feet, let me count the hard cost
of what is right and what is wrong, of who is kind and who can only be the boss
let me lie awake and seek the truth from thy holy face
out of the holy mouth thundering forth out of the holy place

let me walk and stand and talk with the mind of one given over
only to the things that i know you hold dear
let me soften my heart, let me harden my footsteps
as i press toward the mark of your safe place without any fear

hold dearly to me
hold dearly to me
hide me, drape me, closely and safely