listen

                   I
Come all ye fair and tender ladies
                                                    V
Take warning how you court young men.
                     IIm         V             I
They're like a star on a summer's morning.
                   IIm                            I
First they'll appear and then they're gone.

They'll tell you some lovin' story,
They'll make you think they love you well.
And away they'll go to court some other.
And leave you there in grief to dwell.

Oh love is handsome, love is charming,
And love is pretty while its new.
But love grows cold as love grows old,
And fades away like the morning dew.

I      V                                        I
My love is a rider wild broncos he breaks,
            V
but he promised to quit it all just for my
I
sake.
      IV             II                 V
He ties up one foot and his saddle puts on,
             V
With a swing and a jump he is mounted and
I
gone.

The first time I met him twas early one Spring,
Riding a bronco a high headed thing.
He tipped me a wink as he gaily did go
For he wished me to look at his bucking bronco.

He made me some presents among them a ring.
The return that I gave him was a far greater thing.
Twas a young maiden's heart and I'll have you all know.
He won it by riding his bucking bronco.

Now all you young maiden's where ere you reside.
Beware of the cowboy who swings a rawhide.
He'll court you and pet you and leave you and go.
In the Spring up the trail on his bucking bronco.

           I
Let us pause in life's pleasure
        V                   VIm
and count its many tears.
IV            I          V-7th               I
While we all sup sorrow with the poor.
               I
There's a song that will linger
     V             VIm
forever in our ears,
IV      I                       V-7th     I
Oh, hard times come again no more.

(chorus)
             I                           IV      I
'Tis the song the sigh of the wea - ry,
                   IV    I          II                   V
Hard times, hard times, come again no more.
           I
Many days you have lingered
    V                   VIm
around my cabin door,
IV     I               V                    I
Oh, hard times come again no more.

While we seek mirth and beauty
And music bright and gay
There are frail forms fainting at the door.
Tho' their voices are silent
Their pleading looks still say
Hard times come again no more. (chorus)

There's a pale drooping maiden
Who toils her life away
With a worn heart whose better days are 'oer.
Though her voice would be merry,
'Tis sighing all the day
Oh hard times come again no more. (chorus)

'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 lonely grave.
Oh hard times come again no more. (chorus)