They hung up a sign in our old town

"If you live it up, you′ll never 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

Oh, the moon was gold and her hair like wind

She said "Don't look back just come on, Jim,"

Oh, you gotta hold on

Hold on

You gotta hold on

Take my hand I′m standin' right here

You gotta hold on

Well he gave her that dimestore watch

And a ring he made from a spoon

Everyone's looking for someone to blame

But when you share my bed you share my name

Well, go ahead and call the cops

You don′t meet nice girls in coffee shops

She said "Baby, I still love you,"

"But sometimes there′s nothing left to do"

But, you gotta hold on

Hold on

Babe, you gotta hold on

Take my hand I'm standin′ right here

You gotta hold on

God bless your little crooked heart

St. Louis got the best of me

I miss your broken china voice

Oh, how I wish you were still here with me

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

Oh, you gotta hold on

Hold on

Babe, you gotta hold on

Take my hand I'm standin′ right here

You gotta hold on

Down by the Riverside Motel

It's ten below and falling

By a 99-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

Well, your old hometown is so far away

But inside your head, there's a record playing a song called

Hold on

Hold on

Babe, you gotta hold on

Take my hand I′m standin' right here

You gotta hold on

Hold on

Hold on

Yeah, you gotta hold on

I won′t leave you here

Take my hand

You gotta hold on