Hold on (Keep Your Hand on the Plow)

Pete Seeger

Originale

Versione e note da: Radio Station WNEW's Story Of Selma 1965 by ...

HOLD ON (KEEP YOUR HAND ON THE PLOW) Noah, Noah let me come in Door's all locked and window pinned Keep your hand on that plow, hold on Hold on, hold on, keep your hand on that plow, hold on Mary wore three links of chain Every link was Jesus name Keep your hand on that plow, hold on Hold on, hold on, keep your hand on that plow, hold on God gave Noah the rainbow sign No more water could fire next time Keep your hand on that plow, hold on Hold on, hold on, keep your hand on that plow, hold on United nations make a change Every link is freedoms name Keep your hand on that plow, hold on Hold on, hold on, keep your hand on that plow, hold on Freedom’s name is mighty sweet Black and white are gonna meet Keep your hand on that plow, hold on Hold on, hold on, keep your hand on that plow, hold on Many good men have fought and died So we could be here side by side Keep your hand on that plow, hold on Hold on, hold on, keep your hand on that plow, hold on Freedom’s name is mighty sweet Black and white are gonna meet Keep your hand on that plow, hold on Hold on, hold on, keep your hand on that plow, hold on Keep your hand on the gospel plow I wouldn't take nothing for the journey now Keep your hand on that plow, hold on Hold on, hold on, keep your hand on that plow, hold on (one more time) Hold on, hold on, keep your hand on that plow, hold on Keep your hand on that plow, hold on

Hold On (Keep Your Eyes on the Prize) - 1965 PETE [Speaking] It was the clearest example to me of how folk music is made up that I could possibly ask for. I've heard arguments between professors on "how do you suppose the old ballads were composed, or cowboy songs, or sailor songs?" But, I feel I've seen it happen now. What it is, one person gets an idea for a song, usually borrowing an old tune, changing around the words, and then if it's a good idea, it'll be picked up by others, and new verses added to it. Until after a while, you naturally can't say who composed the song. Right, square in front of me I could see people making up verses, I'd go around afterward and saying: "What are the verses to this song 'Oh, Wallace' you're singin'?" And they'd look me kind of perplexed, and they'd say: "The verses? There are no verses, you just make 'em up!" What they meant is that I should've asked for some verses, soon as I did that I got dozens of verses from 'em. 'Hold On' is a typical example. It used to be: [Singing] I got my hand on the gospel plow, I wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now! Keep your hand on the plow, Hold on, hold on. [Speaking] I don't know exactly who it was, I think I was told it was a woman in Georgia who first thought of changing: [Singing] Keep your eyes on the prize, Hold on, hold on. [Speaking] But since the few years ago when this version got goin' around, why, there have been dozens, maybe hundreds of verses. [Speaking] The only thing that ah-we did wrong Was stayin' in the wilderness too long. Keep your eyes on the prize, Hold on, hold on. Hold on... hold on! Keep your eyes on the prize, Hold on, hold on. The only thing that we did right Was the day we begun to fight! Keep your eyes on the prize, Hold on, hold on. Hold on... hold on! [Speaking] And so on. You can see, it's an easy form, you only need to think of two short lines that rhyme with each other. And you got a, uh, the whole crowd joinin' on this chorus. CHORUS - Hold on, hold on. Keep your eyes on the prize, . Hold on... hold on!