Hold It Steady

Carry the flame
Carry the flame (carry it)
Don't let it die

My grandfather walked a hard, hard mile
Kept a fire burning all the while
Passed it to my father with his working hand
Said, "Hold it steady, help the next man stand"
Now it's in my palm, warm and bright
A little steady flame in the cold, cold night
I don't own it, I just hold it for a time
Then I pass it down the family line

Not the loudest fire, not the tallest blaze
Just a steady little light through the darkest days

Carry the flame, don't let it die (carry it)
Hold it steady, hold it high (carry it)
Through the cold night wind and the falling rain
Carry the flame, carry the flame

Carry it (carry the flame)
Pass it down from hand to hand

His old brass lantern on my window sill
Glass is cracked, but it's burning still
Some carry gold and some carry fame
The realest inheritance is a steady flame
My son's small hand wrapped round my thumb
Learning the fire that is yet to come
Wick burns low, the glass is cracked
I carry it anyway, I never look back

Not the loudest fire, not the tallest blaze
Just a steady little light through the darkest days

Carry the flame, don't let it die (carry it)
Hold it steady, hold it high (carry it)
Through the cold night wind and the falling rain
Carry the flame, carry the flame

One winter the gas got cut at the door
We burned old chairs on the kitchen floor
My father struck a match in the freezing dark
Cupped his rough hands round the little spark
Now I strike the same match for my son
Carry the flame, we go on

Rise up, rise up
Carry it, light the way

Carry the flame, don't let it die (carry it)
Hold it steady, hold it high (carry it)
Through the cold night wind and the falling rain
My son will carry the flame

Carry the flame
Don't let it die