( Stephen Foster )

Let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears
While we all sup sorrow with the poor

There's a song that will linger forever in our ears
Oh, hard times, come again no more

'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary
Hard times, hard times, come again no more
Many days you have lingered all around my door
Oh, hard times, come again no more

While we seek mirth and beauty and music to light the way
There are frail forms fainting at the door
Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say
Oh, hard times, come again no more

'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary
Hard times, hard times, come again no more
Many days you have lingered all around my door
Oh, hard times, come again no more

There's a pale drooping maiden who toils her life away
With a worn out heart, whose better days are o'er
Though her voice it would be merry, 'tis sighing all the day
Oh, hard times, come again no more

'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary
Hard times, hard times, come again no more
Many days you have lingered all around my door
Oh, hard times, come again no more

Tis a sigh that is wafted across the troubled wave,
Tis a wail that is heard upon our shore
Tis a dirge that is murmured around those lonely graves
Oh hard times come again no more.

'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary
Hard times, hard times, come again no more
Many days you have lingered all around my door
Oh, hard times, come again no more