Let us pause in life’s pleasures and count its 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
How we tremble before Thee, have mercy we implore
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 pleading looks will say
Oh! Hard times come again no more.

Stephen Foster, Public Domain