1. Let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears,
while we all sup sorrow with the poor.
There's a song that will linger forever in our ears,
oh, hard times come again no more.
It's the song, a sigh of the weary,
hard times, hard times, come again no more.
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door,
oh, hard times, come again no more.
2. While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay,
there are frail forms fainting at the door.
Though their voices now are silent, their pleading looks still say,
oh, hard times come again no more.
3. There's a pale drooping maiden who toils her life away,
with a worn heart whose better days are o'er.
Though her voice should be merry, it's singing all the day,
oh, hard times come again no more.
4. It's a sigh that is wafted across the troubled wave,
it's a wail that is heard upon the shore.
It's a dirge that is murmured around the lowly grave,
oh, hard times come again no more.
It's the song, a sigh of the weary,
hard times, hard times, come again no more.
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door,
oh, hard times, come again no more.
Oh, hard times, come again no more.