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