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