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Hold On Tab

by Tom Waits


           Verse 1

                                          
            They hung a sign up in out 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 charcoal eyes and Monroe hips
                                        
            She went and took that California trip
                                                     
            Well, the moon was gold, her Hair like wind
                                                    
            She said don't look back just Come on Jim

            (Chorus)
                       
            Oh you got to
                   
            Hold on, Hold on
                       
            You got to hold on
                               
            Take my hand, I'm standing right here
                       
            You gotta hold on

Verse 2
                                           
            Well, he gave her a dimestore watch
                                     
            And a ring made from a spoon
                                            
            Everyone is looking for someone to blame
                                                
            But 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
            
                                                     
            Sometimes there's nothin left to do
             (Chorus)
                       
            Oh you got to
                    
            Hold on, hold on
                       
            You got to hold on
                    
            Take my hand, I'm standing right here, you got to
                       
            Just hold on.

            Verse 3
                                           
            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
                                                 
            Well, 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 go to
                     
            Hold on, hold on
                     
            You got to hold on
                                  
            Take my hand, I'm standing right here
                     
            You got to hold on
            
            Verse 4
                               
            Down by the Riverside motel,
                              
            It's 10 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
                            
            That's playing, a song called
            
            (Chorus)
                     
            Hold on, hold on
                                   
            You really got to hold on
                    
            Take my hand, I'm standing right here
                      
            And just hold on.