Verse 1
D G
They hung a sign up in out town
A7 D
"if you live it up, you won't live it down"
D G
So, she left Monte Rio, son
A7 D
Just like a bullet leaves a gun
G A7
With charcoal eyes and Monroe hips
D G
She went and took that California trip
E/G A7
Well, the moon was gold, her Hair like wind
E/G A7
She said don't look back just Come on Jim
(Chorus)
D G
Oh you got to
A7 D
Hold on, Hold on
D G
You got to hold on
A7 G
Take my hand, I'm standing right here
D G
You gotta hold on
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/t/tom_waits/hold_on_crd_ver_2.html ]
Verse 2
D G
Well, he gave her a dimestore watch
A7 D
And a ring made from a spoon
D G
Everyone is looking for someone to blame
A7 D
But you share my bed, you share my name
G A7
Well, go ahead and call the cops
D G
You don't meet nice girls in coffee shops
E/G A7
She said baby, I still love you
E/G A7
Sometimes there's nothin left to do
(Chorus)
D G
Oh you got to
A7 D
Hold on, hold on
D G
You got to hold on
A7 D
Take my hand, I'm standing right here, you got to
D G
Just hold on.
Verse 3
D G
Well, God bless your crooked little heart
A7 D
St. Louis got the best of me
D G
I miss your broken-china voice
A7 D
How I wish you were still here with me
G A7
Well, you build it up, you wreck it down
D G
You burn your mansion to the ground
E/G A7
When there's nothing left to keep you here, when
E/G A7
You're falling behind in this big blue world
(Chorus)
D G
Oh you go to
A7 D
Hold on, hold on
D G
You got to hold on
A7 D
Take my hand, I'm standing right here
D G
You got to hold on
Verse 4
D G
Down by the Riverside motel,
A7 D
It's 10 below and falling
D G
By a 99 cent store she closed her eyes and started swaying
A7 D
But it's so hard to dance that way
G A7
When it's cold and there's no music
D G
Well your old hometown is so far away
E/G A7
But, inside your head there's a record
E/G A7
That's playing, a song called
(Chorus)
D G
Hold on, hold on
A7 D
You really got to hold on
D G
Take my hand, I'm standing right here
A7 D
And just hold on.