Hard Times Are Relative

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Just me and my sister, a dog and a piece of land
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My sister’s name is Darlene and the dog is called Cheyenne
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Our folks both passed away last fall in the fire at the mill
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We get by on a garden and whatever we can kill

[Verse 2]
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On the land there stands a cabin that our grandfather built
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When I’m away to hunt, I feel overrun with guilt
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Cause Darlene’s all alone except for the dog and awful dreams
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She’s seven years my younger and I’m only seventeen

[Chorus]
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We need to fill the smokehouse, winters coming on
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I know it isn’t easy, since mom and dad been gone
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We will keep on growing, two branches of the tree
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Hard times are relative when it comes to family

[Verse 3]
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In the morning I was off before the sun had kissed the ridge
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Whistling new Jimmy Rogers tune as I crossed the coal train bridge
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Two good days of hunting and an evening all alone
Continues after the ad
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I’ll quarter up what I take down then pack it all back home

[Verse 4]
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My head up in the clouds walking on uneven ground
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My boots slipped out beneath me and I came a crashing down
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To the entrance of a cavern, its walls all were wet with moss
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My rifle up there on the ledge said hope was looking lost

[Chorus]
   F                C           F              C
We need to fill the smokehouse, winters coming on
  C       C/B   Am          F                G
I know it isn’t easy, since mom and dad been gone
F               C            F               Am
We will keep on growing, two branches of the tree
C              F                G        C
Hard times are relative when it comes to family

[Verse 5]
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Three nights nearly frozen, my head filled up with doubt
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No matter how hard I tried there was no climbing out
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I yelled for help then prayed the same and even yelled some prayers
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Tears fell at the thought of Darlene with no one there

[Verse 6]
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My mind began to flutter, like the wings of a dove
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Coulda sworn that I was dreaming when Darlene appeared above
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She lowered down a rope then tied it to a blackjack tree
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Cheyenne had found my drag rack trail and brought her straight to me

[Chorus]
   F                C           F              C
We need to fill the smokehouse, winters coming on
  C       C/B   Am          F                G
I know it isn’t easy, since mom and dad been gone
F               C            F               Am
We will keep on growing, two branches of the tree
C              F                G        C
Hard times are relative when it comes to family

[Verse 7]
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As proud as any father of this fearless little one
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Caring for a homestead while most kids are having fun
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Smiling on the way back home there were no words I could say
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Till we stopped to dress the 10 point buck she had shot along the way

[Chorus]
   F                C           F              C
We need to fill the smokehouse, winters coming on
  C       C/B   Am          F                G
I know it isn’t easy, since mom and dad been gone
F               C            F               Am
We will keep on growing, two branches of the tree
C              F                G        C
Hard times are relative when it comes to family