It's the Hard Knock Life
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It's the hard knock life
It's the hard knock life

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 hoe
Cotton blankets, steada wool

Empty bellies, steada full!
It's the hard-knock life

Don't if feel like the wind is always howlin'?
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 wet and weepy
From all the cryin' you would think this place would sink
Oh, oh

Empty belly life! (empty belly life)
Rotten smelly life! (No no no no no)
Full of sorrow 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 for us
It's the hard-knock life for us
No one cares for you a smidge
When your in an orphanage
It's the hard-knock life




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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "It's the Hard Knock Life" by Play describe the struggles of orphaned children trying to survive in a world where they feel unloved and unwanted. The phrase "hard knock life" has become synonymous with a life of hardship and struggle. The song describes the feelings of loneliness and despair that these children often face, as they have no one to turn to for comfort or support.


The first verse describes the harsh reality of their lives. Instead of being treated with love and kindness, they are tricked and kicked. The second verse touches on the fact that they don't have any family or loved ones to care for them. They have to make do with cotton blankets and empty bellies. The line "it's the hard-knock row we hoe" shows that they have to work hard just to survive.


The chorus repeats the phrase "it's the hard-knock life for us" twice, emphasizing the hopelessness of their situation. The third verse asks if it ever feels like the wind is always howling and there's never any light. They feel hopeless and like giving up, but it's easier to just give in than to keep fighting. The fourth verse touches on the fact that no one cares for them. They're alone in the world and don't have anyone to turn to when they need help.


Overall, the lyrics to "It's the Hard Knock Life" paint a picture of the struggles faced by orphaned children. They show the pain and sorrow that these children feel and the hopelessness of their situation. The use of repetition in the chorus emphasizes the direness of their circumstances, giving a sense of urgency to the song.


Line by Line Meaning

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


It's the hard-knock life for us
Our lives are full of misery and hardship


Steada treated, We get tricked
Instead of being treated well, we are often deceived and misled


Steada kisses, We get kicked
Rather than receiving love and affection, we are frequently subjected to cruelty and abuse


It's the hard-knock life!
Our lives are constantly marked by difficulties and struggles


Got no folks to speak of, so
We have no family or loved ones to turn to


It's the hard knock row we hoe
We are forced to work hard and endure difficult circumstances


Cotton blankets, steada wool
We are given inferior or inadequate resources and comforts to survive


Empty bellies, steada full!
We frequently go without food and other basic needs


Don't if feel like the wind is always howlin'?
It seems like we are constantly facing adversity and harsh conditions


Don't it seem like there's never any light??
It often appears as though there is no hope or relief from our struggles


Once a day, don't you wanna throw the towel in?
Sometimes we feel like giving up and accepting defeat


It's easier than puttin' up a fight
It is easier to give up than to keep fighting


No one's there when your dreams at night get creepy
We have no one to comfort us when we are afraid or anxious


No one cares if you grow, or if you shrink
No one is concerned with our well-being or success


No one dries when your eyes get wet and weepy
No one offers us comfort or support when we are sad or crying


From all the cryin' you would think this place would sink
We feel so much pain and sorrow that it seems like the world should be overwhelmed by it


Empty belly life! (empty belly life)
Our lives are characterized by hunger and scarcity


Rotten smelly life! (No no no no no)
Our living conditions are dirty, unpleasant, and often unbearable


Full of sorrow life! (full of sorrow life)
Our lives are consumed by sadness and grief


No tomorrow life!
We have no hope for the future


Santa Claus we never see
We have no joy or happiness in our lives


Santa Claus what's that? Who's he?
We are so deprived that we don't even know what joy or magic might look like


No one cares for you a smidge
No one shows us even a small amount of care or concern


When you're in an orphanage
Our situation is made worse by being alone and without family


It's the hard-knock life!
Our lives are marked by difficulty, struggle, and despair




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Strouse, Mark James, Martin Charnin, Sean Carter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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