ALBUM OUT NOW: Of Hard Times & Harmony
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THE SONG OF HARD TIMES
From the singing of Lillie Steele
Additional verses and arrangement by Windborne
We found a source recording of Lillie Steele singing this piece in the Lomax collection of the Library of Congress Archive while preparing for a showcase at Folk Alliance International 2020. We loved the odd timing and biting critique, but felt we needed to add a few verses to pull the threads of the past through to the situation we see in the world today.
Find this track on Windborne's new album, Of Hard Times & Harmony - get it at www.windbornesingers.com/prod...
Come all you good people I’ll sing you a song
I’ll tell you the truth, I know I ain’t wrong
It’s from father to mother, from sister to brother
They’ve got in the fashion of cheating each other
And it’s hard times
Since cheating is got so much into fashion
I’m ‘fraid it will spread all over the nation
And it’s hard times
Here’s the old baker bakes all the bread we eat,
Likewise the old butcher by selling his meat
They’ll tip up the stillyards and make 'em weigh down
And swear it’s good weight if it lacks ten pound
And it’s hard times
Since cheating is got so much into fashion
I’m ‘fraid it will spread all over the nation
And it’s hard times
Here’s the proud banker with keys to his vault
I swear to you all, he’s worse by tenfold
He’ll hand you a thousand and call it a loan
But then soon enough he’ll take all that you own
And it’s hard times
Here comes the senator with a tie and a smile
He’ll pledge and he’ll promise and swear it’s no guile
He’ll go to the capitol and say he’s your friend
Then he’ll line his silk pockets and leave you again
And it’s hard times
Since cheating is got so much into fashion
I’m ‘fraid it will spread all over the nation
And it’s hard times
But the lord of industry owns the whole lot
he’s got nothing to fear ‘cause the Senator he’s bought
He’s fixing the vote and he’s rigging the game
But he points to your neighbor when you ask who’s to blame
And it’s hard times
Since cheating’s the way of the big corporation
By now it’s spread all over the nation
And it’s hard times
Now I’ve concluded I’ve finished my song
I’ve told you the truth and I know I ain’t wrong
The butcher may cheat you, the banker ain’t fair
But the problem is really the billionaire
And it’s hard times