My name is Hallie Lonnigan; I married Walter Jones For better or for worse, so said the Reverend Dr. Stone; But the better times are all used up and the worse times took control, Then drinkin' took my Walter; may the Lord protect his soul!
Alone with two young kids to raise out on the western plains, My children harmonized with wolves and sang just like the rain, But haulin' hay an' water were the desp'rate daily facts, And the years have carved their mem'ries in the muscles of my back.
Hallie Lonnigan will tell these truths to you: Hard time's the only times I ever knew. Hard luck's the only horse I ever drew. Hard work's the only way I made it through.
Then I married for convenience' sake a trader from in town, A blacksmith name o' Charlie Hawk who'd court me on his rounds, But he'd paw me like a wolverine and there's cheatin' in his blood. He fell upon my butcher knife and crawled off through the mud.
Well, no one was the wiser when ol' Charlie disappeared, And me and them poor children never shed one single tear. We can run this place on our own; don't need no drunks or cheats, And the men they step aside now when I walk down Market Street.
Hallie Lonnigan will tell these truths to you: Hard time's the only times I ever knew. Hard luck's the only horse I ever drew. Hard work's the only way I made it through.
This land was conquered by brave men, your hist'ry books will say: Proud men upon fast horses drove the Indian away. My name is Hallie Lonnigan; I'll have you all to know That the secret of your hist'ry's in a workin' woman's soul.
Hallie Lonnigan will tell these truths to you: Hard time's the only times I ever knew. Hard luck's the only horse I ever drew. Hard work's the only way I made it through. Hard work's the only way I made it through.