It's a cold hard world 
it's a cold hard world 
it's a cold hard world 
oh no 


I heard Red Donley say 
it was on the news today 
it's a cold hard world 
it's a cold hard world 


it's hiking across the country 
looking for a bite to eat 
you'd be surprised at the animals 
and the people you'd meet 


rolling down that highway 
with eyes fixed straight ahead 
they have a caravan of cars 
to bury the dead 
and coke cans and pop bottles 
lined the streets like flowers instead 


and this guy gave me a ride 
I said this industrial waste sure stinks 
'cause that's the smell of money 
i said "well, mister money stinks, too."


[ref.] 


I met a fireman 
he said you never forget burning flesh 
and the librarian said 
do you have a card here? 
I said I been coming here for weeks 
don't you recognize me by now 
I checked out a million books 
just to get you to notice me 


[ref.] 


Somebody's house burned down 
somebody's hubcap fell off 
somebody's soul got lost 
somebody's heart got broke


I heard Red Donley say 
it was on the news today 
it's a cold hard world 
it's a cold hard world