Alan Menken (born July 22, 1949 in New Rochelle, New York, United States) i… Read Full Bio ↴Alan Menken (born July 22, 1949 in New Rochelle, New York, United States) is an American musical theatre and film composer, and pianist. Menken has collaborated with several renowned lyricists including Howard Ashman (1950-1991), Tim Rice and Stephen Schwartz. For his work he has won eight Academy Awards as well as ten additional nominations.
His best known work includes the Disney animated movies, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as Little Shop of Horrors, Enchanted, Tangled and most recently, Sister Act the Musical.

High Times Hard Times
Alan Menken Lyrics

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Refrain (Medda):
High times, hard times!
Sometimes the living is sweet
And sometimes there's nothing to eat
But I always land on my feet
So when there's dry times
I wait for high times and then
I put on my best and I stick out my chest

And I'm off to the races again!
Medda:
My good friend, the Mayor
He called me today
He said, "Medda! The voters are turning away!
"Help me," he cried, "or they'll give me the axe!"
I said, "Your Honor, you got to relax!"
(Repeat refrain)
Medda:
So your old lady
Don't love you no more
So your afraid
There's a wolf at your door
So you got street rats
That scream in your ear ...
ALL:
You win some, you lose some, my dear!
Oh ...
(Repeat refrain)
Medda:
I put on my best
Newsies:
I put on my best!
Medda:
And I stick out my chest
Newsies:
I stick out my chest!
Medda:
And I'm off
Newsies:
And I'm off
(repeat)
Medda:
And I'm off ...

ALL:
To the races again

Overall Meaning

The song High Times Hard Times from Disney's Newsies: The Musical, is sung by the character Medda Larkin, portrayed by actress Kara Lindsay. The song is a source of inspiration and encouragement for the newsboys who are struggling to make ends meet during the Great Depression. Medda, who runs a burlesque club, assures the boys that every good thing comes to an end but a new beginning is just around the corner.

The lyrics in the refrain, "High times, hard times! Sometimes the living is sweet, and sometimes there’s nothing to eat. But I always land on my feet," explain that life has both good and bad times, but one should never give up hope. The line "So when there's dry times, I wait for high times and then" shows that one should patiently wait for good times to return and take advantage of them when they arrive. The stanza in which Medda describes helping her friend, the mayor, when he was in trouble, further emphasizes the importance of being there for one another during difficult times.

The final chorus in which Medda and the newsies sing, "I put on my best and I stick out my chest, and I'm off to the races again," highlights the resilience and determination of the newsies. They may face hard times, but they never lose hope or their spirit to succeed. The song, therefore, celebrates the human ability to overcome difficulties, and its melody matches the mood of the lyrics, vibrant and upbeat.

Line by Line Meaning

High times, hard times!
Life has its ups and downs!

Sometimes the living is sweet
Life is good and full of joy sometimes.

And sometimes there's nothing to eat
Other times, life is full of struggles and hardships.

But I always land on my feet
Despite the challenges, I always manage to overcome them successfully.

So when there's dry times
During tough times,

I wait for high times and then
I wait for the good times to come back,

I put on my best and I stick out my chest
I dress confidently and hold my head up high,

And I'm off to the races again!
And I'm ready to face the world with renewed vigor!

He called me today
The Mayor called me today,

He said, "Medda! The voters are turning away!
He said, "Medda! The voters are not supporting me anymore!

"Help me," he cried, "or they'll give me the axe!"
"Assist me, or they will remove me from office!"