[Verse 1]
Went down to the corner-store to buy a loaf of bread
Tried to pay at the checker, but the checker shook his head
He said the price was up by twice more than I could afford
I hung my head and headed for the door

[Chorus]
And it's hard, hard, hard times
They charge you dollars while they're payin' you in dimes
And when they said it was gonna trickle down, you know that they were lyin'
And it's hard, hard
Hard, hard
It's hard, hard, hard times

[Verse 2]
Got a letter from the landlord said he'd been lookin' round
At the cost of livin' over on his sidе of town
He said diamond rings and shiny things, they don't grow on trees
But makin' sure hе can afford 'em all falls down on me

[Chorus]
Cause it's hard, hard, hard times
They charge you dollars while they're payin' you in dimes
When they said it was gonna trickle down, you know that they were lyin'
And it's hard, hard
Hard, hard
It's hard, hard, hard times
[Verse 3]
I asked a rich man how he got all he got
How he had all he had while the rest of us had not
He said a self-made man, that's what I am, but he seemed to find that funny
He said hard work, perseverance, son, and other people's money

[Chorus]
And it's hard, hard, hard times
They charge you dollars while they're payin' you in dimes
When they said it was gonna trickle down, you know that they were lyin'
And it's hard, hard
Hard, hard
It's hard, hard
Hard, hard
It's hard, hard, hard times