Hard Times in New York Town Lyrics
Sing it to you right, but you might think it's wrong.
Just a little glimpse of a story I'll tell
"Bout an East Coast city that you all know well.
It's hard times in the city,
Livin' down in New York town.
From Washington Heights to Harlem on down.
There's a-mighty many people all millin' all around,
They'll kick you when you're up and knock you when you're down.
It's hard times in the city,
Livin' down in New York town.
To Rockefeller Plaza n' the Empire State.
Mister Rockefeller sets up as high as a bird,
Old Mister Empire never says a word.
It's hard times from the country,
Livin' down in New York town.
Stand in one place till your feet begin to hurt.
If you got a lot o' money you can make yourself merry,
If you only got a nickel, it's the Staten Island Ferry.
And it's hard times in the city,
Livin' down in New York town.
And old Mister Minuet paid for his dream.
Bought your city on a one-way track,
'F I had my way I'd sell it right back.
And it's hard times in the city,
Livin' down in New York town.
'N' every bit of dust in the Oklahoma plains,
'N' the dirt in the caves of the Rocky Mountain mines.
It's all much cleaner than the New York kind.
And it's hard times in the city,
Livin' down in New York town.
You c'n listen to m' story, listen to m' song.
You c'n step on my name, you c'n try 'n' get me beat,
When I leave New York, I'll be standin' on my feet.
And it's hard times in the city,
Livin' down in New York town.
It is quiet interesting how in his early period Bob interpeted/borrowed/stole folk songs. This song was taken from Gid Tanner and Riley Pucket's "On Tanner's Farm". This song can be found on the great old timey compilation: "Ragged but Right: Great Country String Band's of the 1930's".
Here are the lyrics, taken from Flashlyrics.com
On Tanner's Farm
Come you ladies and gentlemen listen to my song I'll sing it to you right, but you might think it's wrong May make you mad, but I mean no harm It's just about the renters on Tanner's farm It's a-hard times in the country Out on Tanner's farm
You move out on Tanner's farm Plant a little crop of 'bacco and little crop of corn Come around and see you gonna flit and flot 'Til you get yourself a mortgage on-a everything you got It's a-hard times in the country Out on Tanner's farm
Hasn't Tanner got a flattering mouth Move you to the country in a little log house Got no windows, put the cracks in the wall He'll work you all summer and he'll rob you in the fall It's a-hard times in the country Out on Tanner's farm
You go in the fields you'll work all day Way after night but you get no pay Promise to meat or a little bucket lard It's so hard to be a renter on Tanner's farm It's a-hard times in the country Out on Tanner's farm 5)
Here's Tanner he'll come in town With his wagon load of peaches, not-a one of them sound Got to have his money or somebody's check Pay him for a bushel and you don't get a peck It's a-hard times in the country Out on Tanner's farm
Tanner's renters, they'll come into town With their hands in their pockets and their head hanging down Go in the store and the merchant will say "Your mortgage is due and I'm looking for my pay" It's a-hard times in the country Out on Tanner's farm
Down in his pocket with a trembling hand "Can't pay you all but I'll pay you what I can" Then to the telephone the merchant'll make a call He'll put you on the chain gang [if you] don't pay it all It's a-hard times in the country Out on Tanner's farm
Tanner's renters, they'll come into town With their hands in their pockets and their head hanging down Go in the store and the merchant will say "Your mortgage is due and I'm looking for my pay" It's a-hard times in the country Out on Tanner's farm