- Version 1931:
Hard time's here an' ev'rywhere you go,
Times is harder than ever been before.
And the People are driftin' from door to door,
Can't find no heaven
I don't care where they go.
Um, hm-hm...
Let me tell you people just before I go,
These hard times will kill just try long so.
Um, hm-hm...
When you hear me singing my blue lonesome song,
These hard times can't last us so very long.
Um, hm-hm...
If I ever can get up off this killin' floor,
I'll never get down this road no mo'.
No, no, no, no, I'll never get down this road no mo'.
And you'll say you had money you better be sure
'Cause these hard times'll drive you from door to door.
Um, hm-hm...
Sing this song and I ain't gonna sing no more,
Sing this song and I ain't gonna sing no more.
Um, hm-hm... hard times will drive you from door to door.
Version 1964:
Hard time's is here an ev'rywhere you go,
Times are harder than ever been before.
Um, hm-hm...
You know that people they are driftin' from door to door,
But they can't find no heaven I don't care where they go.
Um, hm-hm...
People, if I ever can get up off a-this old hard killin' flo',
Lord, I'll never get down this low no mo'.
Um, hm-hm...
Well, you hear me singin' this old lonesome song,
People, you know these hard times can't last us so long,
Hm, hm-hm..
You know, you'll say you had money you better be sure
But these hard times gon' kill you just drive a lone' soul.
Um, hm-hm...