It's The Hard Knock Life
Annie and the Orphans Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

All
Lucky kid, she's out there free

Molly
Runnin' free in N.Y.C.

Pepper
Bet she finds her folks

All
Like that

Kate
Mom and Dad

All
Right off the bat

July
Lucky duck, she got away

Molly
But we're gonna have to pay

Kate and Tessie
Gonna get our faces slapped

Duffy and Pepper
Gonna get our knuckles rapped

All except Molly
It's the hard-knock life

Molly
Yes, it is.

All except Molly
It's the hard-knock life

Molly
Yes, it is.

All except Molly
It's the hard-knock life

Molly
Yes, it is.

All except Molly
It's the hard-knock life

Molly
Yes, it is.





All except Molly
It's the hard-knock life

Overall Meaning

"It's the Hard Knock Life" from the musical Annie tells the story of a group of young orphans who are living in an abusive and neglectful environment. The lyrics express the hardship and struggle of their daily life, contrasting it with the privileged and pampered life of others. The repetition of the line "It's the hard-knock life" emphasizes the hopelessness and despair of their situation.


The opening lines of the song, "It's the hard-knock life for us, Steada treated, we get tricked, Steada kisses, we get kicked," capture the contrast between the reality of the orphans and the idealism of the "American Dream." The orphans are not treated fairly, and they are not given the love and attention they deserve. Instead, they are tricked and kicked, representing the harsh reality of life for many people who are marginalized in society.


The chorus, "No one cares for you a smidge, when you're in an orphanage, it's the hard-knock life," underscores the loneliness and isolation experienced by the orphans. They feel forgotten and uncared for, as if they don't matter to anyone. This feeling of insignificance is further reinforced in the lyric, "Santa Claus we never see, Santa Claus what's that? Who's he?" which symbolizes the loss of innocence and lack of belief in anything positive.


Overall, "It's the Hard Knock Life" is a powerful song that serves to remind us of the hardships faced by those who are struggling in our society. The lyrics are relatable to anyone who has experienced adversity and they illustrate the importance of empathy and compassion.


Line by Line Meaning

It's the hard-knock life for us
Life is difficult for us


It's the hard-knock life for us
Life is difficult for us


Steada treated,
Instead of being well-treated,


We get tricked
We get fooled


Steada kisses,
Instead of being shown affection,


We get kicked
We get physically hurt


It's the hard-knock life!
Life is tough and painful!


Got no folks to speak of, so
We have no family to speak of, therefore


It's the hard knock row we hoe
We have to work hard by ourselves


Cotton blankets, steada wool
We have to use cotton blankets instead of wool ones


Empty bellies, steada full
We go hungry instead of being full


It's the hard-knock life
Life is difficult for us


Don't if feel like the wind is always howling
Doesn't it seem like the wind is always blowing harshly


Don't it seem like there's never any lights?
Doesn't it seem like there are never any lights on


Once a day, don't you wanna throw the towel in?
Don't you feel like giving up once a day


It's easier than puttin' up a fight
Giving up is easier than trying to keep going


No one's there when your dreams at night get creepy
No one is there when we have scary dreams at night


No one cares if you grow, or if you shrink
No one cares if we grow up or if we stay small


No one cries when your eyes get wet and weepy
No one sheds tears when we cry


From the cryin' you would think this place would sink oh
From all the crying, one would think this place would flood with tears


Empty belly life!
We live with empty stomachs!


Rotten smelly life!
We live in conditions with unpleasant odors!


Full of sorrow life!
We live life full of sadness!


No tomorrow life!
We don't have much hope for the future!


Santa Claus we never see
We never see Santa Claus


Santa Claus what's that? Who's he?
We don't even know who Santa Claus is!


No one cares for you a smidge
No one cares for us even a little bit


When you're in an orphanage
When you live in an orphanage


It's the hard-knock life
Life is tough and painful!


You'll stay up till this dump shines
You'll work hard till this rundown place looks good


like the top of the Chrysler Building.
like the tip top of the Chrysler Building.


Yank the whiskers from her chin
Pull the hair from her chin


Jab her with a safety Pin
Poke her with a safety pin


Make her drink a Mickey Finn
Force her to drink a drugged drink


I love you, Miss Hannigan
I'm being sarcastic, I don't love you Miss Hannigan


It's the hard-knock life for us
Life is difficult for us


No one cares for you a smidge
No one cares for us even a little bit


When you're in an orphanage
When you live in an orphanage


It's the hard-knock life
Life is tough and painful!


It's the hard-knock life
Life is tough and painful!


It's the hard-knock life
Life is tough and painful!




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@jonathanromero1753

It's the hard-knock life for us!
It's the hard-knock life for us!

'Steada treated
We get tricked!
'Steada kisses
We get kicked!

It's the hard-knock life!

Got no folks to speak of, so
It's the hard-knock row we how!

Cotton blankets
'Steada wool!
Empty bellies
'Steada full!

It's the hard-knock life!

Don't it feel like the wind is always howl'n?
Don't it seem like there's never any light!
Once a day don't you wanna throw the towel in?
It's easier than puttin' up a fight


No one's there when your dreams at night get creepy!
No one cares if you grow or if you shrink!
No one dries when your eyes get red an' weepy!
From the cryin' you would think this place would sink!
Ohhhh!!!!!!!

Empty belly life!
Rotten smelly life!
Full of sorrow life!
No tomorrow life!

Santa Claus we never see
Santa Claus, what's that? Who's he?

No one cares for you a smidge
When you're in an orphanage!

It's the hard-knock life!

(Imitating Miss. Hannigan)
You'll stay up till this dump shines
Like the top of the Chrysler Building.

Yank the whiskers from her chin
Jab her with a safety pin
Make her drink a mickey finn
I love you, Miss Hannigan

It's the hard-knock life for us
It's the hard-knock life for us
No one cares for you a smidge
When you're in an orphanage
It's the hard-knock life
It's the hard-knock life
It's the hard-knock life!



All comments from YouTube:

@wepoppin6191

Jesus these poor orphans are great at gymnastics

@Dan-di9jd

That orphanage is piss poor and underfunded yet they got a million bucks right there if they can somehow use them as a circus act.

@angelrabishaw3107

PSSSSST 👀 it’s cause they’re actors 😆 don’t come at me I know you know that!

@KapatidTomas

I agree lmao 🤣🤣👍

@tundra-bun

Yet the only gymnastic move I can do is a cartwheel :[

@holacomo263

@@tundra-bun I cant even lift my foot off the ground

132 More Replies...

@enchantingkatie

You really gotta appreciate the fact that these kids actually sound like kids when they sing, as opposed to the later film adaptations where they’re all autotuned to oblivion

@sashatiana-alize6186

Agreed

@sharpaycutie2

They think they're off beat movements are cute lol

@corriehingston6744

Agreed. Autotune (when not used properly) is ridiculous and sounds fake. This sounds like a group of children singing as children

More Comments

More Versions