This song dates back to 1854. Many, many versions are on youtube.
A recording of this from the 2020 North American Distributed Chorus is available.
Let us pause in life's pleasures and count it's 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.
While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay,
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 around my cabin door;
Oh, hard times come again no more.
There's a pale sorrow maiden who toils her life away,
with a worn heart whose better days are o'er:
Though her voice 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 around my cabin 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 the shore
Tis a dirge that is murmured around the lowly grave;
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 around my cabin door;
Oh, hard times come again no more.
Oh, hard times come again no more.
Oh, hard times come again no more. . . .
