In these days of flattening the curve, we’re producing the Apple Seed from a couple of home studios – like you, we’ve been self-isolating, and, like you, looking for ways to reach out to our fellow humans. During this time, Sam took to posting to social media a little song every day – something filled with a little hope and a little encouragement to hang on. We thought we’d bring you some of those pieces here, as Apple Seed Extras. These aren’t studio recordings, and you’ll be able to tell – they’re made with a little Canon SLR camera, aimed at Sam while he sits on the piano bench in his office. But we do hope that you enjoy them.

On today’s extra, an original song, written by Sam, called “Hang On.” It’s a song of hard times, hope, and hanging on. Here’s how it goes:

Hang On

With the darkness all around you

When the river goes too deep

When the wolves are on the threshold

And your angels all asleep

And when every way you turn

Just leaves you feeling like a fool

Hang on, oh without you hanging on what would I do.

Though your friends back down behind you

When you need them most of all

Though it’s loneliness that greets you

When you’re up against a wall.

When the things you always leaned on

Don’t turn out to be so true

Hang on, oh without you hanging on what would I do

Hang on, baby hang on

Hang on, oh without you hanging on what would I do.

Oh I know the waves around you

Come on hard and come on fast

And sometimes there’s nothing for it

But to lash you to the mast

When the weariness and fear

Have had their way inside your brain

Baby, hold to me -- this could be the final day of rain

When the sun is lost in shadow

And it’s beaten down your will

When you see your foes a’coming

Like a bad dream o’er the hill

When there’s trouble next in line

And all the way on down the queue

Hang on, oh without you hanging on what would I do