Hold On

(Song by: Mary GarveyPerformed by: Cate Gable – Song Notes: by Alice Winship)

Mary Garvey

Mary Garvey

LYRICS
Hold on, hold on
I’m frightfully concerned
Hold on, hold on
There’s news that we have learned
Hold on, hold on
There’s a boat that’s overturned
The Coast Guard is coming to Willapa Bay

Hold on, hold on
They have a mighty scope
Hold on, hold on
Never give up hope
Hold on, hold on
There’s a swimmer on a rope
The Coast Guard is coming to Willapa Bay

Hold on, hold on
They’ll jump into the seas
Hold on, hold on
They’re trained for times like these
Hold on, hold on
The water’s cold enough to freeze
The Coast Guard is coming to Willapa Bay

Hold on, hold on
The chopper’s turned around
Hold on, hold on
It means one of them’s been found
Hold on, hold on
The other’s likely drowned
The Coast Guard is coming to Willapa Bay

Hold on, hold on
I’m scared to ask their names
Hold on, hold on
I’m sure you feel the same
Hold on, hold on
The sea’s not ours to tame
The Coast Guard is coming to Willapa Bay



NOTES

According to Mary Garvey, the song Hold On is about a real incident in 2011. A fishing vessel was lost, and although one crew member drowned, the other was saved. She has written the lyrics without a lot of specific details, so that they could refer to many Coast Guard rescues that occur in these turbulent waters. Just keep checking the news.

Cate Gable recorded the song on compilation CD, Tales from the Bar: Songs of the Lower Columbia River, a collection of songs about the Columbia River Bar. It’s a follow-up to the Northwest Tugboat Tales compilation that came out in 2010. The CD is produced by Maritime Folknet.

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