Words by
Keith Reid
Zika nor nama ... hesah!
Through this hourglass
Sands are running fast
In deserted plains
Kingdoms write their names
On these burning sands
Kingdoms show their hands
In these killing fields
Soldiers show their steel
The men who play the gods of war
They stay behind the guarded door
And hostages who seek release
They're crying out to keep the peace
Holding on ... holding on
One day we will be free, one day if we're strong
Holding on ... holding on
Through the shadows cast to a brighter day
In these fields of stone
Far away from home
In this vale of tears
Young men waste their years
The men who play the gods of war
They stay behind the guarded door
Religious leaders teachin' hate
Praise the war and call it fate
Additional words by Gary Brooker, for the special version of Holding On he recorded and sent to fans, via 'Beyond the Pale', on 10 April 2020, when daily Covid 19 deaths in the UK hit 980, and the worldwide total passed 100,000 ... click here to watch and listen
In this crowded place
Locked away from space
And the friends we need
And the air we breathe
Some get treated cruel
Others break the rules:
When you hear that voice
Then you make your choice.
And silent now, the Gods of war
They wear a mask and stay indoors
The Blond One lies, or lays in bed
While experts preach and count the dead
Holding on, holding on
One day we’ll be free
One day when we’re strong
Holding on, holding on
Till that virus goes away
On a brighter day
Keep holding on.