There's an old man sittin' in a rented room sittin' and watchin' the wall

Tryin' to remember the good ole days and wonderin' why the kids don't call

They used to go drivin' in the summer sun when his woman was alive

Now he reads his Gideon Bible and waits for his welfare check to arrive

He got the hard time hungrys doin' the best that he can

Lord the hard time hungrys are spreadin' all over the land



There's a Tennessee housewife shoppin' in the market wearin' her last used jeans

She picks up a roast then changes her mind

Puts it back down and buys some more beans

Her old man's workin' in the filling station and what's he gonna say

When he sits down to a table full of nothin' after workin' like a dog all day

He got the hard time hungrys doin' the best that they can

I see the hard time hungrys spreadin' all over the land



A Mississippi farmer he's watchin' the sky wondering if it's gonna rain

The payment's due on the tractor Lord and the subsidy's been taken away

And in New York City a taxicab driver screams at the world outside

Cause it sure is hot and nobody's got the money for a cross town ride

Lord they got the hard time hungrys...



Now I ain't no preacher and I ain't no teacher but one thing's sure as the sun

If the dollar keeps a droppin' and prices keep a risin' the worst is yet to come

We got the hard time hungrys I feel it touchin' my hand

Lord I see the hard time hungrys spreadin' all over the land

Yes I see the hard time hungrys spreadin' all over the land