Hard Times

There was a Camptown man
He used to plow and sing
And he loved that mule
And the mule loved him
When the day gets long
As it does around now
I hear him singing to his mule cow
Singing come on my sweet old girl
And I'll bet the whole damn world
That we're gonna make it yet
To the end of the road
Singing hard times
Ain't gonna rule my mind
Singing hard times
Ain't gonna rule my mind
Singing hard times
Ain't gonna rule my mind
No more
I said it's a mean old world
Heavy in need
That big machine is just picking up speed
We were supping on tears
We were supping on wine
We all get to heaven in our own sweet time
So come on you Asheville boys
Turn up your old time noise
And kick till the dust comes up
Through the cracks in the floor
Singing hard times
Ain't gonna rule my mind
Singing hard times
Ain't gonna rule my mind
Singing hard times
Ain't gonna rule my mind
No more
But the Camptown man
He doesn't plow no more
I seen him walking down to the cigarette store
I guess he lost that knack
Or he forgot that song
Woke up one morning and the mule was gone
So come on you ragtime kings
Come all you dogs and sing
We're gonna make it yet
To the end of the road
Singing hard times
Ain't gonna rule my mind
Singing hard times
Ain't gonna rule my mind
Singing hard times
Ain't gonna rule my mind
Singing hard times
Ain't gonna rule