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