[Verse 1]
They hung a sign up in our 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
Said, "Don't look back, just come on, Jim"

[Chorus]
Oh, you gotta hold on, hold on
You gotta hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right here
You gotta hold on

[Verse 2]
Well, he gave her that dime store watch
And a ring made from a spoon
Everyone's looking for someone to blame
But when you share my bed, you share my namе
Well, go ahead and call the cops
You don't meet nicе girls in coffee shops
She said, "Baby, I still love you"
But sometimes there's nothin' left to do
[Chorus]
Oh, but you gotta hold on, hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right here
You gotta hold on

[Verse 3]
Well, God bless your crooked little 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

[Chorus]
Oh, you've gotta hold on, hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right here
You gotta hold on

[Verse 4]
Down by the Riverside Motel
It's ten below and falling
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
Oh, your old hometown is so far away
But inside your head, there's a record playing
[Chorus]
A song called "Hold On", hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right there
You gotta hold on

[Outro]
Hold on, hold on
Yeah, you gotta hold on
I won't leave you here, take my hand
You gotta hold on