Come you ladies and you gentlemen a-listen to my song Sing it to you right but you might think it?s wrong Just a little glimpse of a story I?ll tell ?Bout an East Coast city that you all know well It?s hard times in the country Livin? down in New York town Old New York City is a friendly old town From Washington Heights to Harlem on down There?s a-mighty many people all millin? all around They?ll kick you when you?re up and knock you when you?re down It?s hard times in the country Livin? down in New York town It?s a mighty long ways from the Golden Gate To Rockefeller Plaza ?n? the Empire State. Mister Empire sets up as high as a bird Old Mister Rockefeller never says a word It?s hard times from the country Livin? down in New York town Well it?s up in the mornin? tryin? to find a job of work Stand in one place till your feet begin to hurt If you got a lot o? money you can make yourself merry If you only got a nickel it?s the Staten Island Ferry And it?s hard times in the country Livin? down in New York town Mister Hudson come a-sailin? down the stream And old Mister Minuet paid for his dream Bought your city on a one-way track ?F I had my way I?d sell it right back And it?s hard times in the country Livin? down in New York town I?ll take all the smog in Cal-i-for-ne-ay ?N? every bit of dust in the Oklahoma plains ?N? the dirt in the caves of the Rocky Mountain mines It?s all much cleaner than the New York kind And it?s hard times in the country Livin? down in New York town So all you newsy people spread the news around You c?n listen to m? story listen to m? song You c?n step on my name you c?n try ?n? get me beat When I leave New York I?ll be standin? on my feet And it?s hard times in the country Livin? down in New York town