skip navigation

Peri Smilow

RADIO

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE
Music: traditional ("Keep Your Hand on the Plow")
Words adapted by Alice Wine and the Civil Rights Movement

© 1963, 1965 Alice Wine. All Rights Reserved.



Paul and Silas were bound in jail,
Had no money for to go their bail,
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on

CHORUS
Hold on, hold on,
Keep your eyes on the prize,
Hold on.

Paul and Silas began to shout,
Jail door opened and they walked out,
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on

Freedom’s name is mighty sweet,
Soon one day we’re gonna meet,
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on

The only chain that we can stand,
Is that chain of hand in hand,
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on

The only thing that we did wrong,
Stayed in the wilderness a day too long,
Keep your eyes on the prize,
Hold on.

But the one thing we did right,
Was the day we started to fight,
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.

We’re gonna ride for civil rights,
We’re gonna ride for both black and white,
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.

updated: 11 years ago