Monday, January 25, 2021

Hard Times, Come Again No More by Stephen Foster 1854


Hard Times, Come Again No More
Published 1854 by American Songwriter Stephen Foster

Hard Times, Come Again No More - Sung by Thomas Hampson

"Hard Times Come Again No More" is a 19th Century American song written by the famous American songwriter Stephen Foster. It was published in New York by Firth, Pond & Co. as Foster's Melodies No. 28 in 1854. 

Original Lyrics:

1.
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.

Chorus:
'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.

2.
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.

Chorus:
'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.

3.
There's a pale drooping 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.

Chorus:
'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.

4.
'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.

Chorus:
'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.
Hard times come again no more.

Because of its message which is a plea for mercy during tough economic times, the song became extremely popular in both America and Europe. To the credit of its creator, and its message, the song has endured the test of time since being written in 1854.

This song was popular through the hard economic times that followed our first Civil War and with those who suffered during the Great Depression of the 1920s and 1930s. And today, the song speaks to the struggle that we are all experiencing as a result of the COVID plague. With millions of Americans being out of work because thousands of businesses were forced to close to isolate the virus, relief for many is seemingly nowhere to be found.

While the first audio recording was made by the Edison Manufacturing Company in 1905, this song has been recorded by many artists including many today. And while it has been recorded many times over the last 167 years, it has also been recorded in multiple languages around the world. Besides the fact that it has endured, the fact that it speaks to the suffering of all is a lasting testament to its enduring message.

Tom Correa


2 comments:

  1. Well,that was interesting. Certainly sad and not uplifting whatsoever. I read a lot of homesteader blogs and I think about the original homesteaders. Like the folks in the video. It was a hard life, and of those on the frontier didn't live very long, their hard times were so terrifically difficult against the wilderness. We've built upon their lives and their progress. And they did make progress or we wouldn't be where we are today; so improved. Why didn't the writer bring in the fact of God? I believe people leaned over on the Lord, far, far more than in recent times. Times are changing extremely quickly! Today's homesteaders have it easy, though it is all hard work. We have much physical comfort, at least. I'm glad I don't ever put such songs in my eyes and ears, ever. I rather, put the positive Word of God before me. It's so encouraging. Even during what is going to be a very short time for this leftists administration, great things are happening besides the hard times. People are flooding to church, the literal building, and to the body of Christ, and giving their lives up to Him!

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  2. I personally would like to say that if you wanna defend yourself from an intruder with an old school weapon, then the Old West shotgun is the way to go. But then again, any Old West gun will do.

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