Hard Times Come Again No More
and most recently,
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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.
Refrain
‘Tis the song, the sigh of the weary,
Hard times, hard times, come again no more,
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door:
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.
Refrain
There’s a pale drooping maiden who toils her life away
With a worn heart whose better days are o’er,
Though her voice would be merry, ‘tis sighing all the day:
Oh! Hard times, come again no more.
Refrain
‘Tis a sigh that is wafted across the troubled wave
‘Tis a wail that is heard upon the shore,
‘Tis a dirge that is murmured around the lowly grave,
Oh! Hard times, come again no more.
Refrain
Words and music by Stephen
Foster(1826 – 1864).
Among those who have recorded versions of this great and heartfelt song are: