Hard Times
Anna McGarrigle Lyrics
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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
'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary.
Hard times, hard times, come again no more.
Many days you have lingered all around my door.
While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay.
There are frail forms fainting at the door
Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say,
Oh, hard times, come again no more.
'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary.
Hard times, hard times, come again no more.
Many days you have lingered all around my door.
Oh, hard times, come again no more.
There's a pale drooping maiden who foils her life away
With a worn out heart, whose better days are o'er.
Though her voice it would be merry, 'tis sighing all the day,
Oh, hard times, come again no more.
'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary.
Hard times, hard times, come again no more.
Many days you have lingered all around my door.
Oh, hard times, come again no more.
'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary.
Hard times, hard times, come again no more.
Many days you have lingered all around my door.
Oh, hard times, come again no more
Anna McGarrigle's song "Hard Times" reflects on the struggles of poverty and the sadness that it brings. The lyrics make a plea for people to acknowledge the suffering of others and to not forget those who are going through difficult times. The song also highlights the contrast between the frivolous pursuits of life, like "mirth and beauty and music," versus the harsh realities of poverty.
The opening lines of the song urge listeners to take a moment to pause and reflect on the tears that are shed in life. The lyrics suggest that those who are not experiencing poverty should sympathize with those who are, and to be mindful of their own privilege. The chorus repeats the refrain "hard times, hard times, come again no more," which expresses a hope that one day, poverty and its accompanying hardships will no longer be a part of people's lives.
In the second stanza, the lyrics describe the suffering of those who are too weak to even speak out about their problems. The song suggests that even though these people might be overlooked, they still have a voice, which is conveyed through their pleading looks. The third stanza describes a young woman whose best days are behind her, and who spends her time in sadness and exhaustion.
Overall, "Hard Times" is a song that asks people to be compassionate towards others and to pay attention to those who are suffering. It reminds listeners that poverty is a real issue that affects many people, and that people should not turn a blind eye to it.
Line by Line Meaning
Let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears
Let’s take a moment to reflect on the hardships and sadness that exists alongside life’s joys.
While we all sup sorrow with the poor.
As we sit with and empathize with those in poverty, we are reminded of the sorrow and suffering that exists in the world.
There's a song that will linger forever in our ears,
Oh, hard times, come again no more
The memory of difficult times will stick with us long after they have passed, and we hope to never face them again.
'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary.
Hard times, hard times, come again no more.
Many days you have lingered all around my door.
Oh, hard times, come again no more.
This stanza is a refrain, stating the title over and over. It emphasizes the weariness that comes with enduring difficult times and the desire to never experience them again.
While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay.
As we pursue joy, beauty, and lightheartedness, we should remember that not everyone is able to do so as some are struggling and in need of help.
There are frail forms fainting at the door
There are people who are struggling and in need, even if we aren’t aware of them and they aren’t able to voice their needs.
Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say,
Oh, hard times, come again no more.
Although they may not be able to voice it aloud, the pleading looks of those suffering communicate the same desire to be free from hardship that the song expresses.
There's a pale drooping maiden who foils her life away
With a worn out heart, whose better days are o'er.
This line paints a picture of a woman who has given up on life due to the hardships and difficulties she has faced.
Though her voice it would be merry, 'tis sighing all the day,
Oh, hard times, come again no more.
Even though she may put on a facade of happiness, her sighing betrays the difficulties she is facing and her desire for them to end.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARY ROBERT ROSSINGTON, GRANT RICHARD KWIECINSKI, RONNIE VAN ZANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@4houndswhoheal479
Emmy Lou & Mary Black singing together could only be conceive in Heaven.
@rfish54
Canada is wide and full of many people. Not everyone knows the McGarrigle sisters. I count it a special place in my heart to know their music. It is a quiet peace to understand the deepest reaches they make to one's heart. I will miss Kate McGarrigle who sang her heart string. "Oh hard times come again no more." RIP Kate McGarrigle,
@johnprovince5304
My great grandmother was born in 1880 and sang this to me in the early 1960's. She must have learned it from her mother who would have been a contemporary of Stephen Foster. From the 1840's directly to me. Her daughter, my grandmother turned 100 in June, 2019. Amazing.
@zappajohn
+John Province Fantastic.
@Baldrick344
I am a big fan of Stephen Foster, and now of the McGarrigles. We are so lucky they never changed to appeal to the mass market
@EnoVarma
Shame that the mass market didn't change to be appealed by the McGarrigles.
@grizzlybear4
What a wonderful story.
@williemoon7522
that`s a great reach back ,, my fathers mother was born in 1879 .. i remember her a bit ,
@randybailin4902
Beautiful performance. Mary Black's voice is one of the most beautiful ever. I go back and forth between this version and the amazing Tommy Fleming version.
@undurraga1
I just can not let this version of this song go,,thus version is much more special and warm than the one on the record. I simply have no words.