[Verse 1]
When I get up, she swears that she don't hear it
Says that I'm as quiet as a mouse
I comb my hair and throw some water on my face
Back out of the stillness of our house

[Verse 2]
Dishwater days, she says she doesn't notice
Nothing's changed but the sadness in her eyes
Maybe it's something that I could've prevented
Or maybe the whole damn dream was just a lie

[Chorus]
But maybe it's the getting by, maybe it's the getting by
It'd swallow up your every step, boy, if it could
But maybe it's the stuff it takes
To get up when the morning breaks
And hold on (Hold on)
Can you hold on? (Hold on)
Can you hold on? (Hold on)
Can you hold on?
Till the getting's good

[Verse 3]
You know I believe, you know I can't deny it
My people were told they'd prosper in this land
Still I know some who've never seen the ocean
Or set one foot on a velvet bed of sand
[Bridge]
They've got their treasure laying way up high
But when I look up, all I see is sky
Can you tell me, can you tell me why?
Can you tell me, can you tell me why?
Can you tell me, can you tell me why?
When I look up, all I see is sky
When I look up, all I see is sky (Sky)
When I look up, all I see is sky (Sky)
Mother, can you tell me why? (Why?)
When I look up, all I see is sky (Sky)
When I look up, all I see

[Chorus]
Maybe it's the getting by, maybe it's the getting by
It'd swallow up your every step, boy, if it could
You know it would, you know it
But maybe it's the stuff it takes
To get up when the morning breaks
And hold on (Hold on)
Can you hold on? (Hold on)
Can you hold on? (Hold on)
Can you hold on?
Till the getting's good
(Na na na na)
(Na na na na)
Can you hold on? (Hold on)
Can you hold on? (Hold on)
Can you hold on?
Till the getting's good
[Outro]
Can you hold on? (Hold on)
Can you hold on? (Hold on)
Can you hold on? (Hold on)