Come all you good people,
I'll sing you a song.
I'll sing you the truth
and I know I ain't wrong.
From father to mother,
from sister to brother,
they've gotten the habit
of cheating each other
and it's hard times.
For cheatin' has gotten
so much in the fashion
I'm sure it'll spread
all over the nation
and it's hard times.
The baker,
he bakes all the bread that
you eat.
Likewise there's the butcher
who cuts up the meat.
They push down the scales,
they tip them way down
and they'll swear it's good
weight though
They lie to ten pounds
and it's hard times
For cheating has gotten
so much in the fashion
I'm sure it'll spread all over the nation
And it's hard times
The blacksmith makes a living
by the sweat of his brow
Likewise there's the farmer
who follows the plow
They sell you cold iron
and swear it's good steel
And they charge you two dollars
a bushel for a meal
And it's hard times
For cheating has gotten
so much in the fashion
I'm sure it'll spread all over the nation
And it's hard times
And there's the young girls,
so nice and so sweet
They roach up their hair
so nice and so neat
They sit in their chairs,
so neat and so straight
To make the young gentlemen
think they look great
And it's hard times,
for cheatin' has got ten
So much in the fashion,
I'm sure it'll spread
All over the nation,
and it's hard times
And there's the young men,
they'll eat and they'll go
With ruffles and buffles
they make a great show.
They go to some town,
they drink up the wine,
And I'm sure that many the
gallows will find,
And it's hard times,
for cheatin' has gotten
So much in the fashion,
I'm sure it'll spread
All over the nation,
and it's hard times.
And now to conclude
and to finish my song
I've sung you the truth
and I know I ain't wrong
And if you ain't ready,
when the good Lord does call,
The Lord will depart
and the devil take all in its hard times
And if you ain't ready,
when the good Lord does call,
The Lord will depart,
and the devil take all in its hard times.