[Verse 1]
They put a sign up in our town
"If you live it up, you won't live it down"
So she left Monte Rio, son
Just like a bullet leaves a gun
With her charcoal eyes and her Monroe hips
She went and took that California trip
Well, the moon was gold, her hair like wind
She said "Don't look back, you just come on, Jim"

[Chorus]
Oh, you've got to hold on, hold on
Babe, you've got to hold on
Take my hand, standin' right here
You've got to hold on

[Verse 2]
And he gave her a dimestore watch
And a ring made from a spoon
Everybody's lookin' for someone to blame
But you share my bed, you share my name
So go ahead and call the cops
You don't meet nice girls in coffee shops
Oh, and she said "Baby, I still love you
But sometimes there's nothin' left to do"
[Chorus]
Oh, but you've got to hold on, hold on
Babe, you've got to hold on
Take my hand, standin' right here
You've got to hold on

[Verse 3]
And God bless your crooked little heart
St. Louis got the best of me
I miss your broken-china voice
How I wish you were still here with me
But you build it up, you wreck it down
You burn your mansion to the ground
When there's nothing left to keep you here
When you're falling behind in this big blue world

[Chorus]
Oh, you got to hold on, hold on
Babe, you've got to hold on
Take my hand, standin' right here
You got to hold on

[Verse 4]
Down by the Riverside Motel
Well, it's ten below and falling
And by a ninety-nine-cent store
She closed her eyes and started swaying
But it's so hard to dance that way
When it's cold and there's no music
And when your old hometown's so far away
But inside your head there's a record playin'
[Chorus]
A song called "Hold On", hold on
Babe, you've got to hold on
Take my hand, standin' right here
You've got to hold on, hold on
Babe, you've got to hold on
Take my hand, standin' right here
You've got to hold on