Work in the cotton mill all my life,
I ain't got nothing but a Barlow knife,
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
Country folks, they oughta be killed
For leaving their farms and coming to the mill.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
They raised their wages up a half a cent
But the poor old hands didn't know what it meant.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
They raised our wages up a half a cent more,
But they went up a dime at the company store.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
Old man Jones, taking up cloth,
Won't give you half that you take off.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
If it lacks one yard of being a two-cut roll
He won't give you but one to save your soul.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
Card room kids and the spinning room babies
Can't keep up with the weave shop ladies.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
Come downstairs to get a drink of water,
Along come the boss, says, "I'll dock you a quarter."
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
"You can dock me a quarter, you can dock me a dime,
I'll go to the office and I'll get my time."
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
Got to where now you can't show a dime,
You're running on such short time.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
If I ever marry, I'll marry a weaver,
And if she won't work, then I won't either.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
Working in the cotton mill ain't no harm,
I'd heap rather be down on the farm.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
See that train go around the curve,
She's loaded down with cotton mill girls.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
See that train go down the track,
Saying "Goodbye, boys, we'll never come back."
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
I ain't got nothing but a Barlow knife,
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
Country folks, they oughta be killed
For leaving their farms and coming to the mill.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
They raised their wages up a half a cent
But the poor old hands didn't know what it meant.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
They raised our wages up a half a cent more,
But they went up a dime at the company store.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
Old man Jones, taking up cloth,
Won't give you half that you take off.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
If it lacks one yard of being a two-cut roll
He won't give you but one to save your soul.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
Card room kids and the spinning room babies
Can't keep up with the weave shop ladies.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
Come downstairs to get a drink of water,
Along come the boss, says, "I'll dock you a quarter."
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
"You can dock me a quarter, you can dock me a dime,
I'll go to the office and I'll get my time."
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
Got to where now you can't show a dime,
You're running on such short time.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
If I ever marry, I'll marry a weaver,
And if she won't work, then I won't either.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
Working in the cotton mill ain't no harm,
I'd heap rather be down on the farm.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
See that train go around the curve,
She's loaded down with cotton mill girls.
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
See that train go down the track,
Saying "Goodbye, boys, we'll never come back."
And it's hard times in this old mill,
It's hard times in here.
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