One of my very favorite songs, by a true original American talent, Tom Waits: Hold On. An achingly hopeful slice of reality from a songwriter better known for exploring the seedy side of life.

They hung a sign up in our 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 her charcoal eyes and Monroe hips
She went and took that California trip
Oh, the moon was gold, her hair like wind
Said, ‘Don’t look back, just come on, Jim’

Oh, you got to hold on, hold on
You gotta hold on
Take my hand, I’m standing right here
You gotta hold on

Well, he gave her a dimestore watch
And a ring made from a spoon
Everyone’s looking for someone to blame
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’
Sometimes there’s nothin’ left to do

Oh, but you got to hold on, hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
And take my hand, I’m standing right here
You gotta hold on

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
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’ve got to hold on, hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
Take my hand, I’m standing right here
You gotta hold on

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
Oh, your old hometown’s so far away
But inside your head there’s a record that’s playing

A song called ‘Hold On’, hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
Take my hand, I’m standing right there
You gotta hold on

You gotta hold on, hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
Take my hand, I’m standing right there
You gotta hold on