Verso 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

Refrão:
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

Verso 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

Refrão:
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

Verso 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

Refrão:
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

Verso 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

Refrão:
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