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Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Tom Waits
Vocals
Joe Gore
Guitar
Larry Taylor
Bass
Marc Ribot
Guitar
Stephen Hodges
Percussion
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Tom Waits
Songwriter
Kathleen Brennan
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Darren Kramer
Engineer
Heather Fremling
Engineer
Holly Ferguson
Engineer
Jacquire King
Mixing Engineer
Jeff Sloan
Engineer
Kathleen Brennan
Producer
Oz Fritz
Mixing Engineer
Tom Waits
Producer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
They hung 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
[Verse 2]
With her charcoal eyes and Monroe hips
She went and took that California trip
Oh, the moon was gold, her hair like wind
Said, "Don't look back just come on, Jim"
[Verse 3]
Oh-oh, you got to hold on, hold on
Mm, you gotta hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right here
You gotta hold on
[Verse 4]
Well, he gave her a dimestore watch
And a ring made from a spoon
Everyone's looking for someone to blame
When you share my bed, you share my name
[Verse 5]
Well, go ahead and call the cops
You don't meet nice girls in coffee shops
She said, "Baby, I still love you
Sometimes there's nothing left to do"
[Verse 6]
Oh-oh, but you got to hold on, hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
And take my hand, standing right here
You gotta hold on
[Verse 7]
Well, 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
[Verse 8]
Oh, you build it up, you wreck it down
Then you burn your mansion to the ground
Oh, there's nothing left to keep you here
But when you're falling behind in this big blue world
[Verse 9]
Oh, you've got to hold on, hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right here
You gotta hold on
[Verse 10]
Down by the Riverside motel
It's 10 below and falling
By a 99-cent store
She closed her eyes and started swaying
[Verse 11]
But it's so hard to dance that way
When it's cold and there's no music
Oh, your old hometown's so far away
But inside your head there's a record that's playing
[Verse 12]
A song called Hold On, hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right there
You gotta hold on
[Verse 13]
You gotta hold on, hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right there
You gotta hold on
[Verse 14]
You gotta hold on, hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right here
You gotta hold on
[Verse 15]
You gotta hold on, hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
And take my hand, I'm standing right here
You gotta hold on
[Verse 16]
You gotta hold on
You gotta hold on
You gotta hold on
You gotta hold on
[Verse 17]
You gotta hold on, baby
You gotta hold on, girl
You gotta hold on
You gotta hold on
Written by: Kathleen Brennan, Tom Waits