Hush-a-Bye Hard Times Lyrics
Oh hard times come again no more
Oh hard times come again no more
Oh hush-a-bye hard times, go ye away
'Cause my hungry baby wants a gingerbread cake
Not a cow in the barnyard, no money to spend
Not an egg in the hayloft, no little red hen
So hush-a-bye baby, don't cry no more
Your mama can't give you what you're crying for
There's a wolf at the door with an angry cold hungry stare
He keeps howling of hard times and the cupboard is bare
Oh hush-a-bye hard times, go ye to rest
'Cause my ragged baby wants a new ruffled dress
And she wants some new shoes with buckles to wear
And she wants some silver bows for her golden hair
So hush-a-bye baby, don't cry no more
Your mama can't give you what you're crying for
There's a wolf at the door with an angry cold hungry stare
He keeps howling of hard times and the cupboard is bare
Hush-a-bye baby, don't cry no more
Your mama can't give you what you're crying for
Hush-a-bye hard times go ye away
I don't intend to be treated this way
Hush-a-bye hard times
Hush-a-bye baby
Don't cry no more
Hush-a-bye hard times
Hush-a-bye baby
Hush-a-bye hard times
Come ye no more
Many years you have lingered around my cabin door
Hush-a-bye hard times
Come ye no more
Hush-a-bye baby
Hush-a-bye hard times
Hush-a-bye baby
Don't cry no more
Hush-a-bye hard times
Hush-a-bye baby
Hush-a-bye hard times
Come ye no more
About
Hush-a-Bye Hard Times is the second track on Parton’s critically acclaimed 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs album.
It is a mash-up of the American folk tune “Hard Times (Come Again No More)” by Stephen Foster (1854), and the British lullaby “Rock-a-Bye Baby,” originally published in Mother Goose’s Melody (1765), republished in 1791 using the “Hush-a-Bye Baby” phrasing.
Both the text and music for the first portion of the song are directly lifted from Foster’s “Hard Times,” and the folk song’s familiar lyrics, e.g., “hard times come again no more,” and “many years you have lingered around my cabin door” are alluded to throughout.
Each verse also starts with lyrics from “Hush-a-Bye Baby,” but Parton created some of her own lyrics and melodic twists to give the song a modern, country spin.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.9 to 5
- 2.Hush-a-Bye Hard Times
- 6.Working Girl
- 7.Detroit City
- 10.Poor Folks Town
- 11.Everyday People