Just Hold On

Isaac Hayes and David Porter wrote the song ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’ which was released as a single by the soul duo Sam & Dave in 1966.  Hayes came up with the title for this song while he was trying to get Porter to hurry out of the Stax Studios restroom and get back to songwriting.  This song appeared on their 1966 debut album that had the same name and the song charted #21 in the US.  Isaac Hayes and David Porter were one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of the 1960’s.  Isaac Hayes yelled at David Porter to hurry up so they could get back to work, as he was frustrated by the lack of progress that they had made that day.  Porter responded, “Hold on man, I’m coming” and that bathroom break inspired what would become a great title for a song.  The word coming was thought to denote something sexual, so many radio stations decided not to air this song, even though these lyrics are quite innocent.

This is a song of hope where emotional support is offered to a lady that is going through some tough times.  Sam and Dave both assure the woman that help is on the way and that no matter how bad she feels, they have her back and they will take care of her.  Sam Moore & Dave Prater both sang in church while growing up.  They performed separately in Southern clubs during the 1950s working the gospel music circuit and met each other in Miami’s King of Hearts Club in 1961.  Following that meeting, the two singers became a duo and they recorded unsuccessfully for several years before being signed to Atlantic Records in 1965.   The dissolution of the partnership between Stax and Atlantic virtually sealed the fate of Sam & Dave.  They no longer has access to the production team of Hayes and Porter or the house band of Booker T. & the MG’s and that was where all their hits came from.  They did have a few more hits (and, later, a revival of interest thanks to the Blues Brothers), but their glory days were over.

Don’t you ever feel sad,
Lean on me when times are bad.
When the day comes and you’re down,
In a river of trouble and about to drown

Just hold on, I’m comin’,
Hold on, I’m comin’.

I’m goin’ my way, your lover.
If you get cold I’ll be your cover.
Don’t have to worry `cause I’m here,
No need to suffer baby, I’m here.

‘Cause hold on, I’m comin’
Hold on, I’m comin’
Hold on, I’m comin’
Hold on, I’m comin’

Reach out to me for satisfaction,
Call my name now for quick reaction.

Don’t you ever feel sad,
Lean on me when times are bad.
When the day comes and you’re down,
In a river of trouble and about to drown,

Just hold on, I’m comin’
Hold on, I’m comin’

Just hold on, I’m comin’
Hold on, I’m comin’

Just hold on, I’m comin’
Hold on, I’m comin’

Written for Thursday Inspiration #209 I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You where the prompt is hold.