Today I walked the rocky rutts made by daddy's wagon
to lead me to a cabin to a house caved and saging
I stood outside the doorway a little place I called home

hard times have been here but there gone.
in the backyard set a chopping block an axe but no one chopping
on the front porch set a rocking chair a chair but no one rocking

the kitchen stove the cook stove set cold
and all alone hard times have been here but there gone.


[Chorus]

Now the shingles couldn't shed the water from the roof no more

and the rusty hinge had lost it strength and couldn't hold the door
the weeds were growing tall and high where no one had swung a scythe
hard times have been here but there gone.


High upon the mantile there was dust on Momma's bible
and over in the meadow poppa's plow was standing idle

it seem that everything I touched had turned to marble stone
hard times have been here but there gone.


[Chorus]