Hold Fast! 1901

by James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 30 Mar 2009
2009

I got aboard a trolley car
to take a ride uptown
there was no place to sit down
on my face I wore a frown.
'Twas during business hours
ev'ry seat was occupied,
It seemed as if nobody had a home,
I wonder why we ever care to roam,
A lady fair
would get aboard at almost ev'ry street,
and with a smile so sweet
she'd try to get a seat,
About two hundred thousand people
walked upon my feet.
The words I said I wouldn't dare repeat,
Oh! The words I said I wouldn't dare repeat;
Oh! me! Oh! my! I thought I'd die!
Ev'ry time I heard
the old Conductor cry!

Hold Fast!
Don't you lose your nerve!
Grab your lady by the arm
we're going 'round the curve!
Keep your wits about you
and you'll never get a jar,
If you listen to the man
who runs a trolleyolley car!

Hold Fast!
Don't you lose your nerve!
Grab your lady by the arm
we're going 'round the curve!
Keep your wits about you
and you'll never get a jar,
If you listen to the man
who runs a trolleyolley car!

The car was over crowded
folks were hanging on the straps
Girls had bundles in their laps
came from Macy's Store perhaps,
There wasn't room for breathing
and you couldn't turn your head,
For fear you'd bunk it
into some one's face.
And this is what we call
the "human race."
They slamm'd us in
and they jammed us in
and piled us up in stacks,
The Irish, Dutch and Blacks
stuck elbows in our backs,
You couldn't carve your way out
with a carving knife or axe,
Remember I am telling honest facts.
Yes, remember I am telling honest facts,
Transfer! Dear sir! Please ring the bell!
Keep still don't you hear
the old Conductor yell!

Hold Fast!
Don't you lose your nerve!
Grab your lady by the arm
we're going 'round the curve!
Keep your wits about you
and you'll never get a jar,
If you listen to the man
who runs a trolleyolley car!

Hold Fast!
Don't you lose your nerve!
Grab your lady by the arm
we're going 'round the curve!
Keep your wits about you
and you'll never get a jar,
If you listen to the man
who runs a trolleyolley car!

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
pizz str bass
*
Hold Fast! 1901
Music by Jean Schwartz
Lyrics by William Jerome
© 1901 by Shapiro, Bernstein & von Tilzer - New York
*
sequence & karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Monday 30 March 2009 at 15.40
in association with Veda Meyer-Castens
*