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