[Verse 1: gruff older male MC, over marching snares and tuba] Three in the mornin', and the corner's black and cold Got a blanket and a thermos and a spot I mean to hold Thirty years I took this ground, I know the gutters by their names Know the wind off of the river, know which way the sunrise aims Set the line with yellow tape and a cooler on each end Duct-taped my claim to the asphalt, ain't an inch I'm gonna lend Four o'clock, a wagon rattles up the avenue, real slow Woman in a parka over scrubs, and she ain't sayin' hello Parks her wagon on my tape like the tape is just a rumor Opens up a lawn chair on my flank with a nasty sense of humor I said, "Ma'am, this ground is taken," she said, "Sir, this ground is free" I said, "Lady, I been holdin' it since you were only three" [Hook: gruff older male MC, brass stabs] Hold the line, hold the line, I ain't givin' up an inch Got a thermos and a blanket and a flag above the trench Come and take it if you want it, I been here since it was dark Hold the line, hold the line 'til the band begins to march [Verse 2: fierce female MC, full verse, attacking on the snare] Listen, Grandpa, I just pulled a double, I been up since noon Held a stranger's hand on the fourth floor, and I hummed him a tune So don't talk to me 'bout holdin', I hold things for a livin' I hold pressure, I hold charts, I hold the hand that's still forgivin' You got yellow tape, I got an umbrella and a niece And I promised her the front, so you can sit there and make peace You can keep your little thermos and your army-surplus face I been fightin' death all night, I can fight you for a space [Hook: brass stabs] Hold the line, hold the line, I ain't givin' up an inch Got a thermos and a blanket and a flag above the trench Come and take it if you want it, I been here since it was dark Hold the line, hold the line 'til the band begins to march [Verse 3: male MC and female MC trading lines] Six o'clock, I give an inch, but only for the cocoa Seven o'clock, I give a foot, 'cause your knees are movin' slow, so Eight o'clock, my grandson's here, and he's ridin' on my neck Eight-fifteen, my niece is here, and she's standin' on the deck Then the horses clear the street, and the sirens start to sing And we both look up together at the sound of everything [Breakdown: the drums fall into a heavy half-time as the parade turns the corner, brass blasting] Fifty-foot balloon of a turkey floatin' round the bank Marchin' band from Central High, and every horn is in the rank Two grown generals on a curb with a kid on every knee Turns out all we fought for was a place where kids can see [Hook: gruff older male MC and fierce female MC together, brass blasting] Hold the line, hold the line, I ain't givin' up an inch Got a thermos and a blanket and a flag above the trench Come and take it if you want it, I been here since it was dark Hold the line, hold the line 'til the band begins to march [End]
