Boy, it's hard times, hard times,
Done got the best of me;
Hard times, hard times,
Keep on hurting me!
Boy, I went to the employment office
to get myself a job and go to work.
I couldn't even get a job diggin'
in the dirt.
So I went and got myself in a long
bread line.
And all the bread give out, 'bout
time I walked to get in line.
'Cause it's hard times, hard times,
Done got the best of me;
Hard times, hard times,
Keep on hurting me!
Boy, I got five children, the oldest
one is nine.
I got to support 'em 'cause every
one of 'em's mine.
I walked so hard lookin' for work
today I'm almost out of breath.
Hard times on top of me, man, and
whipping me most to death.
'Cause it's hard times, hard times,
Done got the best of me;
Hard times, hard times,
Keep on hurting me!
Boy, I seen some good leavin' in
a garbage can today,
In the back of a restaurant just
across the way,
I turned my head to hear and see
a jazz band play,
The garbage man come and rolled
the garbage can away.
'Cause it's hard times, hard times,
Done got the best of me;
Hard times, hard times,
Keep on hurting me!
Boy, I went home last night, pulled
off my coat and hat,
I said, "Wife, go cook me some
supper," and in a chair I sat.
She said, "Ain't nothin' in the
kitchen but some lard I fried without the fat,"
I said, "Go into the kitchen, mama,
and cook me some of that."
'Cause it's hard times, hard times,
Done got the best of me;
Hard times, hard times,
Keep on hurting me!
Boy, I'll tell you the truth, I
don't know what's wrong with me.
I can't drink milk, coffee, and
I can't drink tea.
I can't eat chicken, I don't care
how good and fat,
Well, I'll tell you the reason,
boy, I can't get that.
'Cause it's hard times, hard times,
Done got the best of me;
Hard times, hard times,
Keep on hurting me!
Boy, I ain't never seen times so
hard in all my life before!
Since nineteen seven, that's been
twenty-three years ago,
I saw a black cat sittin' in an
alley on top of a milk can,
Eatin' a red onion and cryin' like
a natural man.
'Cause it's hard times, hard times,
Done got the best of me;
Hard times, hard times,
Keep on hurting me!
Published 9/17/99.
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