The Lost Dogs have been called a country music supergroup, but they conside… Read Full Bio ↴The Lost Dogs have been called a country music supergroup, but they consider themselves to be a roots and alternative music group. They began in 1991 as a one-time collaboration between four very different vocalists and songwriters from four different bands at the behest of their label at that time. Terry Scott Taylor (Daniel Amos, the Swirling Eddies), Gene Eugene (Adam Again), Derri Daugherty (The Choir), and Michael Roe (The 77s) have over the last two decades released nine eclectic albums of traditional American music (country, folk, blues, rock) with a decidedly modern feel. The Lost Dogs' concert performances are filled with between-song jokes and one-liners between the band members (usually poking fun at each other).

Many of the Lost Dogs albums include at least one or two cover songs. Songs covered by the Lost Dogs include Bob Dylan's "Lord, Protect My Child," Leonard Cohen's "If It Be Your Will," The Beatles' "I'm A Loser," and Stephen Foster's "Hard Times Come Again No More." They have also recorded a number of Traditional or Gospel standards such as "Dust On The Bible," and "Farther Along."

In March, 2000, shortly after the release of their Gift Horse album, Gene Eugene died in his sleep at The Green Room, his recording studio in Huntington Beach, California.

2003 saw the release of the band's first DVD, Via Chicago, a black and white concert film released by Lo-Fidelity Records. A follow-up DVD, Via Chicago (All We Left Unsaid), containing additional songs from the concert, was released in 2006.

Although the loss of Eugene is noticeable, the remaining three Lost Dogs members continue to tour and record new albums. In 2004, the band got together with longtime friend Steve Hindalong to produce a special album for their summer tour. The result was entitled Mutt, and included new acoustic versions of nine songs originally written and recorded for each band member's regular rock bands, with one new song. The following year, the band would release one of their most unusual recordings to date, the almost entirely instrumental Island Dreams.

The band's most recent project, Old Angel, was released May 2010. The band — including the newest official "dog," drummer Steve Hindalong — once again hit the road for a national tour in support of their new album.

Hard Times Come Again No More
Lost Dogs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Let us pause in life's pleasures
And count it's many tears
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
Around my cabin door
Oh, hard times come again no more

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 pleeding looks will say
Oh, hard times come again no more

Overall Meaning

The Lost Dogs's song "Hard Times Come Again No More" is a mournful ballad about the reality of living in hard times. The song implores listeners to pause and take notice of the many tears and the sorrow in the lives of those who are living in poverty. The lyrics highlight the desperation of people living through difficult times, and the hope that they will never have to experience such adversity again. The song speaks to how society tends to prioritize seeking pleasure and beauty over recognizing and empathizing with the struggles of those around us.

The song's refrain, "hard times, hard times, come again no more" echoes the sentiment that the singer longs for a time when people will not have to endure the hardships of poverty and social inequality. The use of music as a means of providing solace and comfort during difficult times is a recurring theme in the song. The tender and plaintive melody of the song evokes a sense of longing and sadness, which perfectly captures the emotions of those who are living in difficult circumstances.

Line by Line Meaning

Let us pause in life's pleasures
Let us take a break from the joys of life

And count it's many tears
And let's acknowledge the many sorrows it brings

While we all sup sorrow with the poor
While we share the suffering of the less fortunate

There's a song that will linger
There's a melody that will stay with us

Forever in our ears
For as long as we live

Oh, hard times come again no more
Oh, let's hope difficult times won't return

Tis the song, the sigh of the weary
This is the song, the sound of exhausted people

Hard times, hard times, come again no more
Let's hope tough times won't recur

Many days you have lingered
You have stayed for many days

Around my cabin door
Outside my humble abode

Oh, hard times come again no more
Oh, let's hope difficult times won't return