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So, now I'm intending to sing you a song,
About the poor people, how they get along;
They start in the spring and they work till the fall,
And when they clew up they have nothing at all.
And it's hard hard times.
It's out with the jigger's the first of the spring,
And over the gunwale you can hear the lines ring;
Perhaps now the jigger gets froze with the cold,
And the first of the starting of going in the hole.
And it's hard hard times.
Then out with the traps and the trawls likewise,
Perhaps get a quintal good start for a voyage;
You'll fill up with spirit and work with a will,
Next morning a drifting you're in the hole still.
And it's hard hard times.
When so much is caught it's put out for to dry,
And then comes the labour to keep off the flies;
They will buzz all around and make trouble for you,
And out comes the sun and splits it in two.
And it's hard hard times.
In comes the schooners go get your supply,
It's a good price this summer you'll make a good buy;
Seven dollars for large and five for your small,
Pick out your West Indies and wait till the fall.
And it's hard hard times.
Then comes the carpenter to build you a house,
He will build it so snug you can scarce see a mouse;
There's a hole in the roof and the rain it will pour,
The chimney will smoke and it's open the door.
And it's hard hard times.
Next comes the doctor the worst of them all,
He says what's the matter with you all the fall;
He says I will cure you of all your disease,
And when he gets your money you can die if you please.
And it's hard hard times.
Now all you good people you'll work with a will,
For all of us soon will be hauled on the hill;
It's there they will lay us down deep in the cold,
And when you are finished you're in the hole still.
And it's hard hard times.
This variant was sung by Mike Kent [b.1904] of Cape Broyle, NL, and published in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).
A variant was collected in 1951 from Ned Rice also of Cape Broyle, NL, by Ken Peacock and published as Hard Times in Songs Of The Newfoundland Outports, Volume 1, pp.57-59, by the National Museum of Canada (1965) Crown Copyrights Reserved, and also recorded on the album Songs And Ballads Of Newfoundland, Folkways FG 3505, LP (1956) trk#A.05.
A variant was also recorded as Hard, Hard, Times by Dick Nolan (Fisherman's Boy, RCA CS-2576, St. John's, NL, 1972)
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All guitar tabs have been contributed by visitors to this site and represent
their interpretation of the tune. We are unable to verify their accuracy.
So, now [D] I'm intending to [A7] sing you a [D] song,
[D] About the poor people, [G] how they get a-[A] long.
They [D] start in the spring and they [A7] work till the [D] fall,
And [E] when they clew up they have [A] nothing at [D] all,
And it's [A7] hard hard [D] times.
