[Verse 1: Ira Wolf]
There was a camp town man, used to plow and sing
He loved that mule and the mule loved him
When the day got long as it does about now
I'd hear him singing to his mule cow

[Chorus 1: Ira Wolf and Lee Henke]
Calling, "Come on my sweet old girl
"I bet the whole damn world
"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: Ira Wolf]
I said it's a mean old world, heavy in need
And that big machine is just picking up speed
And we're supping on tears and we're supping on wine
We all get to heaven in our own sweet time

[Chorus 2]
So come all you Asheville boys
Turn up your old-time noise
And kick 'til the dust comes up from the cracks in the floor
Singing, "Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind
"Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind, honey
"Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind no more"
[Verse 3: Ira Wolf]
But the camp town man, he doesn't plow no more
I seen him walking down to the cigarette store
Guess he lost that nag, he forgot that song
He woke up one morning and the mule was gone

[Chorus 3: Ira Wolf and Lee Henke]
So come all you ragtime kings
And come all you dogs, and sing
Pick up the dusty old horn and give it a blow
Singing, "Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind
"Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind, honey
"Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind no more"