Hard Times

(album: Powder River - 1989)

The ole man stand by the lone chute, he sold his calves today
He spits in the dust between his boots, as the semi pulls away
The slick blue check in his grimy hands, shoves down in his coat
It won't make the payment on the land, or pay the interest on the note
Oh... it's hard, hard times...

He's a young man with a loving wife, 2 children and a home
Plans to build a better life, and put a mortgage on his own
He lost his job when the boom went bust, still got bills to pay
Now he's picking up cans in the roadside dust, she's at the feed-rack Cafe
Oh... it's hard, hard times...

Now the ole grey banker sits behind his desk, beneath a worried frown
Of the tangled mess of some good folks going down
He's known some of 'em for 30 years, and some point the finger of blame
An' no one sees the banker's tears, the one who shares his name
Oh... it's hard, hard times...
Mmm... it's hard, hard times...