By Michael Baginski/ The annual U.S Travel Association IPW trade show is typically a treasure trove of music, playing to America’s outsized influence on popular culture. This year in Chicago, the event was highlighted by a special Travel South USA partners conference featuring Darius Rucker, aka Hootie of Hootie & the Blowfish.
The Hooties are still around – they are set to tour in 2026 – but in between gigs, Rucker has forged a notable solo career, which included, in this case, performing a private concert for close to 800 guests of Travel South (including yours truly) at the House of Blues.
It was an evening of Southern hospitality and soul, led by the Grammy-Award winning Rucker and his band, which covered a familiar blend of roots, rock and country – not least some of the Hootie classics, like the band’s first hit, “Hold My Hand,” from 1994 (and performed here in 2023).
Lyrics
With a little love, and some tenderness
We’ll walk upon the water, we’ll rise above the mess
With a little peace, and some harmony
We’ll take the world together, we’ll take ’em by the hand
‘Cause I’ve got a hand for you
‘Cause I wanna run with you
Yesterday, I saw you standing there
Your head was down, your eyes were red, no comb had touched your hair
I said get up, and let me see you smile
We’ll take a walk together, walk the road awhile, ’cause
‘Cause I’ve got a hand for you
(I’ve got a hand for you)
‘Cause I wanna run with you
(Won’t you let me run with you? Yeah)
(Hold my hand) Want you to hold my hand
(Hold my hand) I’ll take you to a place where you can be
(Hold my hand) Anything you wanna be because
I wanna love you the best that… the best that I can
See I was wasted, and I was wastin’ time
‘Til I thought about your problems, I thought about your crimes
Then I stood up, and then I screamed aloud
I don’t wanna be part of your problems, don’t wanna be part of your crowd, no
‘Cause I’ve got a hand for you
(I’ve got a hand for you)
‘Cause I wanna run with you
(Ah, won’t you let me run with you?)
(Hold my hand) Want you to hold my hand
(Hold my hand) I’ll take you to the promised land
(Hold my hand) Maybe we can change the world, but
I wanna love you the best that… the best that I can, yeah
Oh, Let me run, won’t you let me run…
(Hold my hand) Want you to hold my hand
(Hold my hand) I’ll take you to a place where you can be
(Hold my hand) Anything you wanna be because
I… oh no-no, no no no
(Hold my hand) Want you to hold my hand
(Hold my hand) I’ll take you to the promised land
(Hold my hand) Maybe we can change the world, but
I wanna love you the best that… the best that I can
Oh, the best that I can
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