You've got me on a string.
And I don't mean a thing to you.
I'm holding on to no one,
I'm a long-time lover,
And my long-time love is gone.
If my man beats me, robs me blind,
Long as he don't leave me, I don't mind.
I would beg and I would crawl,
Though it does no good at all.
My man been gone so long,
And I keep holding on.
And if he needed me, I'd be there.
No matter how he mistreated me,
I don't care.
I would get down on my knees,
I tried so hard to please.
My man been gone for so long,
And I keep holding on.
Empty windows, boarded doorways,
Choose your prison,
When I'm with him.
And I'm a fool for loving you.
And, well, I know,
How the head says, "No."
And the heart says,
"Go down on your knees, woman,
And keep on holding on."
And I don't mean a thing to you.
I'm holding on to no one,
I'm a long-time lover,
And my long-time love is gone.
If my man beats me, robs me blind,
Long as he don't leave me, I don't mind.
I would beg and I would crawl,
Though it does no good at all.
My man been gone so long,
And I keep holding on.
And if he needed me, I'd be there.
No matter how he mistreated me,
I don't care.
I would get down on my knees,
I tried so hard to please.
My man been gone for so long,
And I keep holding on.
Empty windows, boarded doorways,
Choose your prison,
When I'm with him.
And I'm a fool for loving you.
And, well, I know,
How the head says, "No."
And the heart says,
"Go down on your knees, woman,
And keep on holding on."