Hard, Ain't It Hard
The Kingston Trio
Words and Music by Woody Guthrie

- From their 1958 debut LP "The Kingston Trio"

Oh well it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard
To love one who never did love you
Oh well it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard Great God
To love one who never will be true.

Well there is a house in this old town
And that's where my true love lays around
And she sits down upon another's knee (do tell)
And tells him what she never will tell me.

Oh well it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard (oh yes)
To love one who never did love you
Oh well it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard Great God
To love one who never will be true.

Oh well the first time I seen my true love
She was a'standing a'by my door
And the last time I seen her false-hearted smile
She was dead on that barroom floor. (porter)

Oh well it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard (oh yes)
To love one who never did love you
Oh well it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard Great God
To love one who never will be true.

Well who's gonna kiss your ruby lips?
Who's gonna hold your little hand?
And who's gonna do, well--you know what!
When I'm down in that promised land? (hey)

Oh well it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard (oh yes)
To love one who never did love you
Oh well it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard Great God
To love one who never will be true. (pick it)


Oh well don't drinkin' and gamblin'
Don't go there your sorrows for to drown
Oh well this hard liquor place is a low down disgrace
It's the meanest darn place in this town.

Oh well it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard (oh yes)
To love one who never did love you
Oh well it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard Great God
To love one who never will be true. (here we go)

Oh well it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard (oh yes)
To love one who never did love you
Oh well it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard Great God
To love one who never will be true.

Transcribed by Ronald E. Hontz
ronhontz@worldnet.att.net