Here's a version, printed before Patterson is reputed to have written this song, and clearly attributed to Clifton. The "Arranged by" line must be an artifact from the original sheet music, because this source only provides the melody line, and Hobson appears as the arranger on many pieces of original Clifton sheet music (though the tunes often came from others). Notices in journals from the 1860's also mention "Pulling Hard Against the Stream" as one of Clifton's popular songs.


PULLING HARD AGAINST THE STREAM
    Written and sung by Harry Clifton.
    Arranged by M. Hobson.

1. In the world I've gained my knowledge,
    And for it have had to pay,
Though I never went to college
    Yet I've heard that poets say,
Life is a mighty river,
    Rolling on from day to day,
Men are vessels launch'd upon it,
    Sometimes wreck'd and castaway.

        CHORUS:
    So then,
    Do your best for one another,
        Making life a pleasant dream,
    Help a worn and weary brother,
        Pulling hard against the stream.
        [repeat from "Do"]

2. Many a bright good-hearted fellow,
    Many a noble minded man,
Finds himself in water shallow,
    Then assist him if you can;
Some succeed at ev'ry turning,
    Fortune favours ev'ry scheme
Others too, though more deserving,
    Have to pull against the stream.

3. If the wind is in your favour,
    And you've weather'd every squall,
Think of those who luckless labour,
    Never get fair winds at all;
Working hard, contented, willing,
    Struggling through life's ocean wide,
Not a friend and not a shilling,
    Pulling hard against the tide.

4. Don't give way to foolish sorrow,
    Let this keep you in good cheer,
Brighter days may come to-morrow,
    If you try and persevere,
Darkest nights will have a morning,
    Though the sky be overcast,
Longest lanes must have a turning,
    And the tide will turn at last.

Source: Weston & Hussy Minstrels' Book of Songs, No. 1 [1880-1889], p. 31. Only words and tune printed.


ABC transcription of the melody:

X:1
T:Pulling Hard Against the Stream
C:Written by Harry Clifton. Arranged by M. Hobson.
Z:Artful Codger
S:Weston & Hussy Minstrels' Book of Songs, No. 1 [1880-1889], p. 31
M:2/4
L:1/8
Q:"Moderato" 1/4 = 100
K:Eb
%
e B G E | A F D B, | E F G e | d c B2 |
w: In the world I've gained my know-ledge, and for it have had to pay,
%
e B G E | A F D B, | E G B> A | G F E2 |
w: Though I ne-ver went to col-lege, Yet I've heard that Po-ets say,
%
F B =A> G | F e d B | d c e c | G =A B2 |
w: Life is like a migh-ty ri-ver, Roll-ing on from day to day,
%
F B =A> G | F e d B | d c f d | G =A B2 | (c2 Hd2) ||
%   Last note converted from eighth to quarter, to form complete measure.
w: Men are ves-sels launch'd up-on it, Some-times wreck'd and cast-a-way. So then,
%
%   Chorus
|: "^Chorus" e> B G E | A F D B, | E> F G e | d c B2 |
w: Do your best for one a-no-ther, Ma-king life a plea-sant dream.
%
e> B G E | A F D B, | E G B> A | G F E2 :|
%   Last note converted from eigth to quarter, consistent with second line.
%   Fermata over the end-repeat barlines.
w: Help a worn and wea-ry bro-ther, Pull-ing hard a-gainst the stream.

---

Click to play

To play or display ABC tunes, try concertina.net