Hard Times
Gillian Welch and David Rawling
There was a camp town man.
Used to plow and sing
'n 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 mule cow
Calling, "Come on my sweet old girl, and I'll bet the whole damn world
That we're gonna make it yet to the end of the row"
Singing "Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind.
Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind, Bessie.
Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind no more."
Said it's a mean old world, heavy in need.
And that big machine is just picking up speed.
And we're supping on tears, and we're supping on wine.
We all get to heaven in our own sweet time.
So come all you Asheville boys and turn up your old-time noise
And kick 'til the dust comes up from the cracks in the floor
Singing, "Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind, brother.
Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind.
Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind no more."
But the camp town 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 on, you ragtime kings
and come on, you dogs, and sing
And pick up a dusty old horn and give it a blow,
Playing, "Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind, honey
Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind, sugar
Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind no more."
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