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