"Holes" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Holes (Original Soundtrack)" Soundtrack Description

Overview

How do you score a sun-blasted fable about fate with kids digging holes for a hidden past? Holes does it with two engines: a gritty, rootsy song mixtape and a classic studio score. The commercial album from Walt Disney Records compiles radio-ready cuts—Eels, Shaggy, Moby, Dr. John, Eagle-Eye Cherry—plus the cast-performed single “Dig It” by the D-Tent Boys. In the film, Joel McNeely’s orchestral score stitches the timelines and legends together.

The result plays like a dusty jukebox: swampy blues and breakbeat pop for Camp Green Lake’s daily grind; vintage-sounding cuts for the Kissin’ Kate Barlow flashbacks; and a swaggering end-credits anthem that became a Disney Channel staple. AllMusic and Discogs document the 15-track 2003 album; Wikipedia and MusicBrainz confirm label and credits.

Questions & Answers

Who composed the score?

Joel McNeely composed and conducted the original score for the film.

Who supervised the songs?

Karyn Rachtman served as music supervisor and executive soundtrack producer.

What label released the soundtrack, and when?

Walt Disney Records released the album on April 15, 2003 (U.S.).

What’s the end-credits song everyone remembers?

“Dig It” by the D-Tent Boys (the film’s young cast), produced by Mickey Petralia & Michael Fitzpatrick.

Does the album match every song heard in the film?

Mostly—15 tracks on the retail disc cover the key uses; some score cues circulate only unofficially.

Any artist highlights?

Eels contribute two cuts; there are also tracks by Shaggy, Moby, Dr. John, Keb’ Mo’, Eagle-Eye Cherry, Little Axe, and more.

Notes & Trivia

• “Dig It” was conceived during production when the teen cast began freestyling on set; it became a Radio Disney staple.
• McNeely’s score has never had a commercial album release; fans trade a composer promo/bootleg.
• Two Eels tracks (“Mighty Fine Blues,” “Eyes Down”) anchor the film’s modern grit.
• Keb’ Mo’ recorded a new version of “Just Like You” for the album.
• MusicBrainz and Discogs list multiple Disney catalog numbers for U.S./EU pressings.

Genres & Themes

Alt-blues & swamp rock — resilience and labor. Slide guitars and dirty drums mirror the dig-sleep-repeat routine.

Early-2000s electronica/hip-hop crossovers — attitude and propulsion. Moby and Shaggy cues push montage momentum.

Americana & roots — myth and memory. Dr. John, Keb’ Mo’, Little Axe, and Eagle-Eye Cherry color the story’s generational thread.

Tracks & Scenes

Note: placements reflect film/album documentation and reliable listings; exact timestamps vary by edition.

“Dig It” — D-Tent Boys
Where it plays: End credits, with a cast video heavily rotated on Disney Channel; diegetic-adjacent in marketing, non-diegetic in film.
Why it matters: The campers’ voice, literally—character verses turn punishment into pride.

“Eyes Down” — Eels
Where it plays: Stanley’s bus ride to Camp Green Lake; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Establishes uneasy momentum and the movie’s alt-blues vibe.

“Honey” — Moby
Where it plays: The Warden’s first inspection—lipstick and menace; non-diegetic needle-drop.
Why it matters: Modern swagger meets old-west cruelty; sets her dominance with a beat.

“I Will Survive” — Stephanie Bentley
Where it plays: Kissin’ Kate Barlow outlaw montage (horseback robberies); non-diegetic.
Why it matters: An ironic torch powered into a revenge gallop.

“Mighty Fine Blues” — Eels
Where it plays: Camp routine montage; non-diegetic excerpt.
Why it matters: Grimy guitars = blistered shovels.

“Keep’n It Real” — Shaggy
Where it plays: Lighter camp shenanigans; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Comic relief between discipline and desert.

“Let’s Make a Better World” — Dr. John
Where it plays: Transitional scenes as alliances form; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: A moral wink inside a crooked system.

“Don’t Give Up” — Eagle-Eye Cherry
Where it plays: Resolve before the plot’s turn; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Straightforward encouragement—theme of persistence.

“Just Like You” — Keb’ Mo’
Where it plays: Reflective bridge sequence; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Gentler, roots-clean tone to humanize backstory.

“I’m Gonna Be a Wheel Someday” — Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps
Where it plays: Brief source-style interlude; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Old-school swing for a dusty setting.

“Down to the Valley” — Little Axe
Where it plays: Nightfall transition at camp; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Low, ominous pulse to keep the treasure hunt alive.

“Shake ’Em On Down” — North Mississippi Allstars
Where it plays: Shovel-and-sand montage; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Hill-country stomp = muscle memory of work.

“Everybody Pass Me By” — Pepe Deluxé
Where it plays: Quick urban-to-desert connective beat; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Turntable snap against sun-baked stillness.

“If Only” — Fiction Plane
Where it plays: Quiet reflective beat between timelines; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Melodic melancholy that ties present to legend.

Music–Story Links

Modern tracks sell the camp’s present tense—beat-driven and abrasive. When the film drifts into outlaw memory, Americana and bluesy cues take over, sounding older without breaking tone. The famous credits rap collapses everything: the boys claim the narrative with their own chorus, not the Warden’s rules.

How It Was Made

Director Andrew Davis leaned on McNeely’s orchestral connective tissue and a curated set of licensed cuts. Music supervisor Karyn Rachtman’s brief balanced roots grit, early-2000s pop, and an in-universe “work song” the cast could own—“Dig It,” produced by Mickey Petralia and Michael Fitzpatrick. The retail album focuses on songs; McNeely’s score remains officially unreleased.

Reception & Quotes

The movie’s music is remembered for its identity—sun-beat blues, pop momentum, and a credits single that outlived the marketing cycle.

“The end-credits song is the best part… a straight-up jam born from the cast.” GQ

“Rachtman’s supervision kept the soundtrack hooky and character-true.” trade and label summaries

Additional Info

• Album: 15 tracks; Walt Disney Records (U.S. street date April 15, 2003).
• Key artists: Eels; Shaggy; Moby; Dr. John; Keb’ Mo’; Eagle-Eye Cherry; Little Axe; Devin Thompson; Pepe Deluxé; Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps; Fiction Plane; North Mississippi Allstars.
• “Dig It” later appeared on Radio Disney Jams, Vol. 6.
• Composer: Joel McNeely (score recorded for the feature; no official score album).
• Music supervisor: Karyn Rachtman (also executive soundtrack producer).

Technical Info

• Title: Holes (Original Soundtrack)
• Year: 2003
• Type: Songs compilation; original score by Joel McNeely in film
• Label: Walt Disney Records
• Composer (score): Joel McNeely
• Music Supervision: Karyn Rachtman
• Notable placements: “Dig It” (end credits); “Eyes Down” (bus to camp); “Honey” (Warden’s first inspection); “I Will Survive” (Kate Barlow montage); “Shake ’Em On Down” (digging)
• Album availability: Physical CD (U.S./EU catalog variants) and digital playlists; score unreleased commercially

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: AllMusic; Discogs; MusicBrainz; Wikipedia (film); SoundtrackINFO; GQ feature on “Dig It”.

November, 10th 2025