Hard Times

Old man McCartney finally died
Went to his grave unsatisfied
Gravedigger wishes he was under that hill
When he comes home to his stack of unpaid bills
You remember Frank who lived on Jennings Road?
Bank foreclosed, now he ain't got no home
These are hard times

New mother sneaks out in the middle of the night
Leaves her little baby crying in the neon light
Gas station attendant says: "This town's a joke!"
Takes the money from the register and goes for broke
Sirens screaming in the early morning rain
Times like these drive a man insane
These are hard times

Stockbroker driving his coupe de ville
Money's rolling in to Capitol Hill
Everybody's asking: "Which way to the top?"
Somebody's always taking what somebody else has got
Some guy's dressed up in red, white, and blue
He's lying to me and he's lying to you
These are hard times

words and music by Jim Patton and Lew Morris © 1988 (Independent Alligator Publishing Co) (ASCAP)