HARD TIMES, A Comic Song
C. F. S.; 1843 (Sussdorff)

1. Come listen awhile, and I'll sing you a song,
Concerning the times and it shall not be long,
Now everybody is trying to buy;
And cheating each other, I cannot tell why,
And it's hard, hard times.

2. From Father to Mother, from Sister to Brother,
From Cousin to Cousin are cheating each other;
Since cheating has become so much in the fashion,
I'm afraid to my soul it'll spread all over the nation;
And it's hard, hard times.

3. Oh! there is the Baker. By baking he eats,
And so does the Butcher by killing his meat,
They kick up the steelyard and make it weigh down,
And swear it's right if it lacks twenty pounds;
And it's hard, hard times.

4. And here is the Lawyer as you plainly see,
He'll plead you a case for a very large fee,
He'll plead you a case and tell you it's right;
And when he is gone, he'll say it's a lie.
And it's hard, hard times.

5. And here is the Doctor I liked to forget,
I think to my soul is the worst of the flock,
He'll tell you he'll cure you for half you possess,
And when you are dead, he'll take all the rest.
And it's hard, hard times.

6. And here comes the Young Ladies I lik'd to have missed,
I think to my soul they are fond to be kissed,
They act the coquet when they have the sense,
And tell you to call on sometime hence.
And it's hard, hard times.

7. Oh there are the Old Maids who ought to get clear,
For the Boys won't have them and I think it's for fear;
And after they get married if they should do wrong,
They are sure to have their heads cracked with the tongues.
And it's hard, hard times.

8. And here comes the Bachelor who is every man's scorn,
He is like an old garment all tattered and torn.
The girls and widows all unite, to toss him skyhigh,
And I think it's quite right.
And it's hard, hard times.

9. And here is the Widow who I ought to let clear,
But to finish my song she must be mentioned here,
She is so well acquainted with catching the beaus,
She'll take in a fellow before ever he knows,
And it's hard, hard times.

10. And here are the Young Men the worst of the whole,
They'll tell you they love you to their very soul;
They'll tell you they love you when they are sitting by,
And when they are gone they'll swear it's a lie.
And it's hard, hard times.

Sheet music at American Memory, on which the composer's name is given only as C. F. S. Published by W. R. Bayley, Philadelphia.
At the foot of page one with the copyright data (not readable), the author's name is written in manuscript. At the top of page one, also in ink, is "Deposited Aug. 8, 1843, by C. F. Sussdorff (signature) as author.

http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/sm1843.390350

A rather poor version of the song, done better in English and American song sheets, but concerned more with people (widows, young men and women, bachelors, etc.) rather than occupations.

A much longer version of "Hard Times," also at American Memory, is on a song sheet published by Leonard Deming, Boston, some 22 verses, but all concerning occupations. Also approx. mid-19thc. but undated.