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 lone 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 everywhere. 
Hold the line, hold the line 
We will hold the line forever 'til there's freedom everywhere. 

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

And without any warning, the rocks began [bad word] 
The cops and troopers laughed to see the damage that was done. 
They ran us through the gauntlet, to their everlasting shame. 
And the cowards there attacked us. their nation knew their shame. 

All across the nation we are telling you this tale 
You can marvel at the concert and know we have not failed. 
We shed our blood at Peckskill and suffered many a pain 
But we beat back the fascists and we'll beat them back again! 

Hold the line, hold the line. 
We will hold the line forever 'til there's freedom everywhere! 
 
1949