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