Hold It Together

Lyrics

[MRS. HERNDON, spoken] Inmates, this is my prison mess hall You will sit down, shut up and eat your food [ALICE, spoken] But matron, we are political prisoners and we refuse— [MRS. HERNDON, spoken] Guards! If one of these girls says another damn word Knock her teeth out Now, eat your food [ALICE, spoken] Don't touch the food [LUCY, spoken] But when will we eat? [ALICE, spoken] Not 'til they release us [DORIS, spoken] What? [MRS. HERNDON, spoken] Quiet, eat your food [ALICE, spoken] Hunger strike [LUCY, spoken] Strike [MRS. HERNDON] Guards! [ALICE, LUCY, DORIS & RUZA] Strike! Strike! Strike! Strike! [ALICE, LUCY, DORIS & RUZA, MRS. HERNDON, spoken] Strike! (Guards, shut them up) Strike! Strike! Strike! [MRS. HERNDON, spoken] You won't last the night [ALICE] Hold it together See it through Don't let despair Get the best of you [ALICE, LUCY, DORIS & RUZA] Push down the pain Thicken your skin Hold it together Never give in [CARRIE] God bless our great republic God bless our grand old flag God bless the land of freedom we hold dear Let mother serve We're here to help the war We'll conserve our food to feed our soldiers even more 'Cause the kitchen is the key To U.S. victory So mister, won't you please let mother serve? [CARRIE, spoken] We'll now take a recess for tea [MOLLIE, spoken] Are you all right? [CARRIE, spoken] I just need air I'm fine, I'm fine [MOLLIE] Perhaps the problem's with your spine [CARRIE] Mollie, would you stop it? If we fall in line about the war, you'll see We'll get the President to finally hear our case So please drop it [MOLLIE] But the Carrie I know would never condone this carnage [CARRIE] If you don't like it, go join Alice Paul in jail [MOLLIE, spoken] Is this about besting Alice Paul or winning the vote? [MOLLIE] Which do you care about more? What a coward you've become [MOLLIE, spoken] Fight your own war [CARRIE] Hold it together See it through [CARRIE & ALICE] Don't let your age Get the best of you [CARRIE, MARY, MOLLIE, ALICE, LUCY, DORIS & RUZA] Push down the pain Thicken your skin Hold it together Never give in [ALICE, spoken] Ruza, no Stay strong for Inez [RUZA, spoken] Get her name out of your mouth Was killing her not enough for you? [LUCY, spoken] How dare you say that to her? [ALICE, spoken] What matters is Inez kept fighting Even though she was tired and sick So we owe it to her to do the same [DORIS, spoken] Alice, it's been a week I'm losing my mind [ALICE, spoken] Don't worry Wilson will be shamed into a pardon as soon as word gets out He's letting women die of starvation [LUCY, spoken] Oh, how comforting [RUZA, spoken] From the moment we met You promised me we would burn him down [ALICE, spoken] We will, but— [RUZA, spoken] But it is five years later! He's still in power Our friend is dead And now we are dying in prison [ALICE, LUCY, DORIS & RUZA] Why are you fighting me? I am not the enemy [MRS. HERNDON, spoken] That's enough Guards, take 'em away [To DORIS] Except you, stay put Your husband is here [DORIS, spoken] Husband? [DUDLEY] Good God, what have they done to you, Miss Stevens? I mean, Mrs. Malone [DORIS, spoken] Hello, darling [DUDLEY] I am here on behalf of the Chief of Police The President has ordered my wife's immediate release [MRS. HERNDON, spoken] She's all yours, sir [MRS. HERNDON] See if you can beat some sense into her [DORIS] Congratulations on your new job [DUDLEY, spoken] What? [DORIS, spoken] You're a Suff now Let's get moving [DUDLEY] Yes, sir—ma'am Yes, I am [CARRIE, MARY, MOLLIE, ALICE, LUCY, DORIS & RUZA] Hold it together See it through Don't let the bastards intimidate you Push down the pain Thicken your skin [ALICE] Hold it together [CARRIE] Hold it together [CARRIE, MARY, MOLLIE, ALICE, LUCY, DORIS & RUZA] Hold it together [IDA] Never give in