Ol' NewYork city is a friendly old town
From Washington Heights to Harlem on down
There's a- mighty many people all a-millin' all around
They'll kick you when you're up an' knock you when you're down
It's hard times from the country livin' down in NewYork town.

Well the weak 'n the strong 'n' the rich 'n' the poor
Together gatherin room for no more
Crowdin' up above an' crowdin down below
When someone disappears she never even knows
It's hard times from the country livin' down in NewYork town.

It's a-mighty long ways from the golden gate
To Rockefeller plaza an' the Empire state
Mister Empire sets up as high as a bird
An' ol mister Rockefeller never says a word
It's hard times from the country livin' down in NewYork town.

Well it's up in the mornin tryin' to find a job of work
Stand in one place till your feet begin to hurt
If you got a lot of 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 livin' down in NewYork town.

Mister Hudson comes a-sailin' down the stream
An' ol' Minuet mister he paid for his dream
Bought your city on a one way track
If i had my way i'd sell it right back
An' it's hard times from the country livin' down in NewYork town.

I'll take all the smog in Californi-ay
An' every bit of dust in the Oklahoma plains
An' the dirt in the caves of the rocky mountains mines
It's all much cleaner than the New York kind
It's hard times from the country livin' down in NewYork town.

So all you newsy people, let spread the news around
If you listen to my story, if you listen my song
You can step on my name, you can try an' get me beat
When i leave New York i'll be standin' on my feet
It's hard times from the country livin' down in NewYork town.