Hard Times in New York Town (Demo - 1961)

Lyrics

[Verse 1] Come you ladies and you gentlemen and listen to my song I'll sing it to you right, but you might think it's wrong Just a little glimpse of a story I'll tell 'Bout an East Coast city that you all know well It's hard times from the country Living' down in New York town [Verse 2] Old New York City is a friendly old town From Washington Heights to Harlem on down There's a-mighty many people and they're millin' all around They'll kick you when you're up and knock you when you're down It's hard times from the country Living' down in New York town [Verse 3] Well, the weak and the strong and the rich and the poor Gather together, ain't room for no more Crowded up above and crowded down below And someone disappears, you never even know And it's hard times from the country, livin' down in New York town [Verse 4] It's a mighty long ways from the Golden Gate To Rockefeller Plaza 'n' the Empire State Mister Empire sits up as high as a bird And old Mister Rockefeller never says a word It's hard times from the country Living' down in New York town [Verse 5] Well, it's up in the morning' trying' to find a job of work Stand in one place till your feet begin to hurt If you got a lot o' money you can make yourself merry If you only got a nickel, it's the Staten Island Ferry It's hard times from the country Living' down in New York town [Verse 6] Mister Hudson come a-sailing down the stream And old Minuet Mister paid for his dream He bought your city on a one-way track If I had my way I'd sell it right back It's hard times from the country Living' down in New York town [Verse 7] I'll take all the smog in Cal-i-for-ne-ay 'N' every bit of dust in the Oklahoma plains 'N' the dirt in the caves of the Rocky Mountain mines It's all much cleaner than the New York kind And it's hard times in the country Living' down in New York town [Verse 8] So all you newsy people that spread the news around You can listen to m' story, listen to m' song You can stamp on my name, you can try 'n' get me beat When I leave New York, I'll be standing' on my feet And it's hard times from the country Living' down in New York town