Hard Times In New York Town

Come you ladies and you gentlemen, a-listen to my song

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

From the country, living’ down in New York town

Old New York City is a friendly old town

From Washington Heights to Harlem on down

There’s a-mighty many people all milling’ all around

They’ll kick you when you’re up and knock you when you’re down

It’s hard times

From the country, living’ down in New York town

Well, the weekend is strong and the rich and the poor

Get there together in roof an' no more

Crowdin' up 'bove and crowdin' down below

And someone disappears, you never even know

And it's hard times from the country, livin' down in New York town

It’s a mighty long ways from the Golden Gate

To Rockefeller Plaza ’n’ the Empire State

Mister Empire sets up as high as a bird

Old Mister Rockefeller never says a word

It’s hard times from the country

Living’ down in New York town

Well, it’s up in the morning’ trying’ to find a job of work

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

From the country, living’ down in New York town

Mister Hudson come a-sailing down the stream

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

From the country, living’ down in New York town

I’ll take all the smog in Cal-i-for-ne-ay

’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 country, living’ down in New York town

So all you newsy people, spread the news around

You can listen to m’ story, listen to m’ song

You can step on my name, you can try ’n’ get me beat

When I leave New York, I’ll be standing’ on my feet

And it’s hard times

From the country, living’ down in New York town