Hard Times

There was a camptown man

Used to plow and sing

And he loved that mule and the mule loved him

When the day got long

As it does about now

I’d hear him singing to his muley cow

Callin come on my sweet old girl

I’d bet the whole damn world

We’re gonna make it yet to the end of the road

Singing hard times

Ain’t gonna ruin my mind

Hard times

Ain’t gonna ruin my mind, Bessie

Hard times

Ain’t gonna ruin

My mind

No more

I said it’s a mean old world

Heavy in need

And that big machine is just a-pickin up speed

And we’re suppin on tears

And we’re suppin on wine

We all get to heaven in our own sweet time

So come all you Asheville boys

Turn up your old time noise

Kick til the dust comes up

From the cracks in the floor

Singing hard times

Ain’t gonna ruin my mind, brother

Hard times

Ain’t gonna ruin my mind

Hard times

Ain’t gonna ruin

My mind

No more

But the camptown man

He doesn’t plow no more

I seen him walking down to the cigarette store

Guess he lost that knack

And he forgot that song

Woke up one morning and the mule was gone

So come all you ragtime kings

And come on you dogs and sing

And Pick up the dusty old horn

And give it a blow

Playing hard times

Ain’t gonna ruin my mind, honey

Hard times

Ain’t gonna ruin my mind, sugar

Hard times

Ain’t gonna ruin

My mind

No more