GCG
Come you ladies and you gentlemen, a-listen to my song,
GCG
sing it to you right, but you might think it's wrong,
GCG
just a little glimpse of a story I'll tell,
GCD
'bout an East Coast city that you all know well.
GCGDG
It's hard times in the country, livin' down in New York town.
GCG
Old New York City is a friendly old town,
GCG
from Washington Heights to Harlem on down,
GCG
there's a-mighty many people all millin' all around,
GCD
they'll kick you when you're up, and knock you when you're down.
GCGDG
It's hard times in the country, livin' down in New York town.
GCG
Well, the weak and the strong and the rich and the poor,
GCG
gather together there, ain't room for no more,
GCG
crowded up above and crowded down below,
GCD
if someone disappears, you never even know.
GCGDG
And it's hard times in the country, livin' down in New York town.
GCG
It's a mighty long ways from the Golden Gate
GCG
to Rockefeller Plaza n' the Empire State,
GCG
Mister Empire sets up as high as a bird,
GCD
and old Mister Rockefeller never says a word.
GCGDG
It's hard times from the country, livin' down in New York town.
GCG
Well, it's up in the mornin' tryin' to find a job of work,
GCG
stand in one place till your feet begin to hurt,
GCG
if you got a lot o' money you can make yourself merry,
GCD
if you only got a nickel, it's the Staten Island Ferry.
GCGDG
And it's hard times in the country, livin' down in New York town.
GCG
Mister Hudson come a-sailin' down the stream,
GCG
and old Mister Minuet paid for his dream´,
GCG
bought your city on a one-way track,
GCD
if I had my way, I'd sell it right back.
GCGDG
And it's hard times from the country, livin' down in New York town.
GCG
I'll take all the smog in Cal-i-for-ne-ay,
GCG
'n' every bit of dust in the Oklahoma plains,
GCG
'n' the dirt in the caves of the Rocky Mountain mines,
GCD
it's all much cleaner than the New York kind.
GCGDG
And it's hard times in the country, livin' down in New York town.
GCG
So all you newsy people, spread the news around,
GCG
you c'n listen to m' story, listen to m' song,
GCG
you c'n step on my name, you c'n try 'n' get me beat,
GCD
when I leave New York, I'll be standin' on my feet.
GCGDG
And it's hard times in the country, livin' down in New York town.