D G A D
Come you ladies and you gentlemen, a-listen to my song
G A D
Sing it to you right, but you might think it’s wrong
G A D
Just a little glimpse of a story I’ll tell
G A D
’Bout an East Coast city that you all know well
G
It’s hard times in the country
A D
Livin’ down in New York town
D G A D
Old New York City is a friendly old town
G A D
From Washington Heights to Harlem on down
G A D
There’s a-mighty many people all millin’ all around
G D
They’ll kick you when you’re up and knock you when you’re down
G
It’s hard times in the country
A D
Livin’ down in New York town
D G A D
It’s a mighty long ways from the Golden Gate
G A D
To Rockefeller Plaza ’n’ the Empire State.
G A D
Mister Empire sets up as high as a bird
G D
Old Mister Rockefeller never says a word
G
It’s hard times from the country
A D
Livin’ down in New York town
D G A D
Well, it’s up in the mornin’ tryin’ to find a job of work
G A D
Stand in one place till your feet begin to hurt
G A D
If you got a lot o’ money you can make yourself merry
G A D
If you only got a nickel, it’s the Staten Island Ferry
G
And it’s hard times in the country
A D
Livin’ down in New York town
D G A D
Mister Hudson come a-sailin’ down the stream
G A D
And old Mister Minuet paid for his dream
G A D
Bought your city on a one-way track
G D
’G I had my way I’d sell it right back
G
And it’s hard times in the country
A D
Livin’ down in New York town
D G A D
I’ll take all the smog in Cal-i-for-ne-ay
G A D
’N’ every bit of dust in the Oklahoma plains
G A D
’N’ the dirt in the caves of the Rocky Mountain mines
G A D
It’s all much cleaner than the New York kind
G
And it’s hard times in the country
A D
Livin’ down in New York town
D G A D
So all you newsy people, spread the news around
G A D
You c’n listen to m’ story, listen to m’ song
G A D
You c’n step on my name, you c’n try ’n’ get me beat
G D
When I leave New York, I’ll be standin’ on my feet
G
And it’s hard times in the country
A D G A D
Livin’ down in New York town