Hard Times

[Verse 1] There was a Camptown man, he used to plow and sing And he loved his mule and the mule loved him When the day got long, as it does about now I'd hear him singing to his mule and cow [Chorus] Singing, "Come on, my sweet old girl and I'll bet the whole wide world That we're gonna make it yet to the end of the row" Singing, "Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind, Bessie Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind no more" [Verse 2] Said it's a mean old world, heavy in need And that big machine, it just keep picking up speed We're supping on tears and we're supping on wine We'll all get to heaven in our own sweet time [Chorus] So come all you Asheville boys and turn up your old-time noise And kick till the dust comes up from the cracks in the floor Singing, "Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind, brother Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind no more" [Verse 3] But the Camptown man, he doesn't plow no more I saw him walking down to the cigarette store Guess he lost that knack and forgot that song Woke up this morning and the mule was gone [Chorus] So come all you ragtime kings and come on, you dogs, and sing And pick up a dusty old horn and give it a blow Playing, "Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind, honey Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind, sugar Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind no more"