"Hands to Heaven" is a ballad by English new wave band Breathe, taken from their debut studio album, All That Jazz (1987). The song released as their fifth UK single on 20 October 1987 by A&M Records and as the band's second single in the US the following year. It was written by group members David Glasper and Marcus Lillington, and produced by Bob Sargeant. The B-side features an instrumental track "Life and Times". "Hands to Heaven" was Breathe's breakthrough hit internationally. The single peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart in August 1988. That same month in the United States, it logged two weeks at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also reached No. 2 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. "Hands to Heaven" also became a top-10 hit in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and Norway.

Music video

The music video, directed by Eamon McCabe, features the group in a surreal dream sequence, with the lead singer falling asleep in a black London taxicab and waking at the end, being driven away by the driver.

Track listings

All songs were written by David Glasper and Marcus Lillington and published by Virgin Music, Inc. UK 7-inch single (SIREN SRN68) A special limited edition of the 7-inch single which included photos, lyrics and Fan Club address was released in the UK (SRNL 68). US 7-inch single and cassette single (A&M AM-2991/TS-2991) UK 12-inch single (SIREN SRNT68) A special limited edition of the 12-inch single featured a poster sleeve. UK CD single (SIREN SRCD 68)1

Personnel

Band Guest musician Production

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Cover versions

In popular culture

The song was used for the Michael and Julia characters on the American soap opera Santa Barbara.