My mother told me

'Fore she passed away

Said son when I'm gone

Don't forget to pray



'Cause there'll be hard times

Lord those hard times

Who knows better than I?



Well I soon found out

Just what she meant

When I had to pawn my clothes

Just to pay the rent



Talkin' 'bout hard times

Lord those hard times

Who knows better than I?



I had a woman

Who was always around

But when I lost my money

She put me down



Talkin' 'bout hard times

Hard times

Yeah, yeah, who knows better than I?



Lord, one of these days

There'll be no more sorrow

When I pass away



And no more hard times

No more hard times

Yeah, yeah, who knows better than I?