This is terrific "folk process," seeing all these versions on the web. Who would have thought, back in the 1940s when I began singing? Here's what I have collected and sung.
I worked in the cotton mill all of my life I ain't got nothing but a Barlow knife
CHORUS It's hard times, cotton mill girls, hard times everywhere.
In 1915 we heard it said, "Move to cotton country, you can get ahead
Card room kids and spinning room babies Can't keep up with the weave shop ladies
Come down the stairs to get a drink of water Along comes the boss, says I'll dock you a quarter
You can dock me a quarter, you can dock me a dime I'll go to the office and I'll get my time
They raised our wages up half a cent more But they went up a dime at the company store
Working on the cotton mill ain't no harm I'd a heap rather be down on the farm
See that train goin' round the curve She's loaded down with cotton mill girls
When I die, don't bury me at all Hang me up on the cutting room wall Pickle my bones in alcohol It's a hard time everywhere