Hold the Line

Let me tell you the story of a line that was held
And many men and women whose courage we know well
As they held the line at Peekskill on that long September day
We will hold the line forever 'til the people have their way

Hold the line!
Hold the line!
As we held the line at Peekskill
We will hold it ev'rywhere
Hold the line!
Hold the line!
We will hold the line forever
'Til there's freedom ev'rywhere

There was music, there was singing, people listened everywhere
The people they were smiling, so happy to be there
While on the road behind us, the fascists waited there
Their curses could not drown out the music in the air

Hold the line!
Hold the line!
As we held the line at Peekskill
We will hold it ev'rywhere
Hold the line!
Hold the line!
We will hold the line forever
'Til there's freedom ev'rywhere

For the grounds were all surrounded by a band of gallant men
Shoulder to shoulder, no fascist could get in
The music of the people was heard for miles around
Well-guarded by those workers, their courage made us proud

Hold the line!
Hold the line!
As we held the line at Peekskill
We will hold it ev'rywhere
Hold the line!
Hold the line!
We will hold the line forever
'Til there's freedom ev'rywhere

When the music was all over, we started to go home
We did not know the trouble and the pain that was to come
We got into our buses and drove out through the gate
We saw the gangster police, their faces filled with hate

Hold the line!
Hold the line!
As we held the line at Peekskill
We will hold it ev'rywhere
Hold the line!
Hold the line!
We will hold the line forever
'Til there's freedom ev'rywhere

Then without any warning the rocks began to come
The cops and troopers laughed to see the damage that was done
They ran us through a gauntlet, to their everlasting shame
And the cowards there attacked us, damnation to their name

Hold the line!
Hold the line!
As we held the line at Peekskill
We will hold it ev'rywhere
Hold the line!
Hold the line!
We will hold the line forever
'Til there's freedom ev'rywhere

All across the nation the people heard the tale
And marveled at the concert, and knew we had not failed
We shed our blood at Peekskill, and suffered many a pain
But we beat back the fascists and we'll beat them back again!

Hold the line!
Hold the line!
As we held the line at Peekskill
We will hold it ev'rywhere
Hold the line!
Hold the line!
We will hold the line forever
'Til there's freedom ev'rywhere