My Top Ten Hard Times Songs

Without realising he'd done it, Charity Chic threw down the gauntlet yesterday when he chose three fine songs about Hard Times.

Here's another ten... and I still had to leave out the Human League! Sorry, Brian. (I also had to leave out Kiss, but I imagine you'll be less upset by that.)


10. Run DMC - Hard Times

Gotta start with this one as it has the perfect opening lines...

Hard times spreading just like the flu

Watch out homeboy, don't let it catch you

9. Paul Simon - Love & Hard Times

One of those lyrics that only Paul Simon could get away with.

God and His only Son

Paid a courtesy call on Earth

One Sunday morning

Orange blossoms opened their fragrant lips

Songbirds sang from the tips of Cottonwoods

Old folks wept for His love in these hard times

"Well, we got to get going, " said the restless Lord to the Son

There are galaxies yet to be born

Creation is never done

Anyway, these people are slobs here

If we stay it's bound to be a mob scene

But, disappear, and it's love and hard times

8. Public Image Limited - Hard Times

The slogan will take you like lemmings to the cliff

You'll feel better than ever, and into the abyss

Every crack every crevice will be sanitised

There'll be no more war, there'll be no more choice

7. Jimmy Buffet - There's Nothing Soft About Hard Times

We never knew anything groovy.

A dime meant bread, and not a movie.

The muscles that control my smile were rarely ever used.

'Cause there's nothing soft about hard times.

6. The Shirelles - Hard Times

Last time I had a brand new hat

The people thought the world was flat

5. The Imagined Village (featuring Billy Bragg) - Hard Times Of Old England

Time was I could sell all I grew at the shop

When Tesco's turned up all of that had to stop

Now I can't make a living out of my crop

Singing oh the hard times of old England

4. Loudon Wainwright III - Times Is Hard

You're watchin' the news. It all looks bad.

The worst half-hour you ever had.

What in God's name is goin' on?

All I can do is play this song.

3. Eels - Rock Hard Times

Hollywood lies piled up to the sky

Floating your way soon

Hope you like the rotten stench of doom

And everybody knows these are rock hard times

I gotta make it through

These are rock hard times

2. Baby Huey & The Baby Sitters - Hard Times

Written by Curtis Mayfield, but I prefer the Baby Huey version.

Eatin' Spam and Oreos and drinkin' Thunderbird baby

1. John Mellencamp - Hard Times For An Honest Man

From the times when John Mellencamp could do no wrong.

And he hates the cold-bloodedness

That runs inside