The song Emily Kinney sang at the end of The Walking Dead last night

The vagabond crew of The Walking Dead are barely hanging on in the prison as the ever-present walkers and the Governor are bearing down on them. In last night’s episode entitled “I Ain’t a Judas” the closing scene of desperation was beautifully set as Beth Greene, played by Emily Kinney, broke out in solemn song.

As our heroes (and Merle) gathered round contemplating what their next move might be Beth sang:

“They hung a sign up in our town. ‘If you live it up you won’t live it down.’ So she left Monte Rio son, just like a bullet leaves a gun.”

As Emily’s (who’s a singer/songwriter in her own right) singing faded, the actual version of the song melded in as scenes from Woodbury and a disrobed Andrea were shown. Afterwords, fans of the show were searching on Twitter and other places to find out what tune it was that Emily echoed a capella into their darkness. For those who didn’t immediately recognize the raspy, rough-hewn vocals, it was Tom Waits and his stunning single “Hold On” off of the release Mule Variations.

Here’s the official video for what I personally consider one of the better songs of the last twenty years from one of the greatest albums of any generation.

In a follow-up interview about the episode with EW, Executive Producer Robert Kirkman explained that, “I think everyone in the production is a Tom Waits fan. But I would say the biggest fan among us is probably Glen Mazzara. That guy only listens to Bob Dylan and Tom Waits.”

Tom Waits “Hold On” lyrics:

They hung a sign up in our town
“If you live it up, you won’t live it down”
So she left Monte Rio, son
Just like a bullet leaves a gun
With her charcoal eyes and Monroe hips
She went and took that California trip
Oh, the moon was gold, her hair like wind
Said, ‘Don’t look back, just come on, Jim’

Oh, you got to hold on, hold on
You gotta hold on
Take my hand, I’m standing right here
You gotta hold on

Well, he gave her a dime store watch
And a ring made from a spoon
Everyone’s looking for someone to blame

When you share my bed, you share my name
Well, go ahead and call the cops
You don’t meet nice girls in coffee shops
She said, ‘Baby, I still love you’
Sometimes there’s nothin’ left to do

Oh, but you got to hold on, hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
And take my hand, I’m standing right here
You gotta hold on

Well, God bless your crooked little heart
St. Louis got the best of me
I miss your broken china voice
How I wish you were still here with me
Oh, you build it up, you wreck it down
Then you burn your mansion to the ground
Oh, there’s nothing left to keep you here
But when you’re falling behind in this big blue world

Oh, you’ve got to hold on, hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
Take my hand, I’m standing right here
You gotta hold on

Down by the Riverside Motel
It’s 10 below and falling
By a 99 cent store
She closed her eyes and started swaying
But it’s so hard to dance that way
When it’s cold and there’s no music
Oh, your old hometown’s so far away
But inside your head there’s a record that’s playing

A song called ‘Hold On,’ hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
Take my hand, I’m standing right there
You gotta hold on