Chris Thomas King performed HARD TIME KILLING FLOOR BLUES on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack album (2000), but it was originally recorded by Skip James in 1931. I believe he recorded it again during the folk revival of circa 1960, and he altered the lyrics somewhat, but I believe these lyrics are what he recorded in 1931:

Copied from Michael Taft's Pre-War Blues Lyrics Concordance


HARD TIME KILLING FLOOR BLUES
Skip James

Hard times here : everywhere you go
Times is harder : than ever been before

Well the people are drifting : from door to door
Can't find no heaven : I don't care where they go

Let me tell you people : just before I go
These hard times will kill you : just dry long so*

When you hear me singing : my so lonesome song
These hard times : can last us so very long

If I ever get off : this killing floor
I'll never : get down this low no more

If you say you had money : you better be sure
Because these hard times will drive you : from door to door

Sing this song : and I ain't going to sing no more
Hard times will drive you : from door to door


[* "dry long so"—these words don't make any sense to me, and I can't believe they're correct, but I don't have anything better to suggest.—JD]