I know that I was given everything I could take
From the moment I was livin' I was dyin' to make
Nothing out of something or real out of fake
It's hard days livin' in the world
Said the man on the corner with a sign in his hands
And the other in his pocket, a feverish grin
Could you spare me a dollar, whatever you can?
It's hard days livin' in the world
The mother in the market with her kids in a line
Getting poorer every second trying hard to survive
The water isn't running, the bills pile high
It's hard days livin' in the world
The paper treads of terror and an oil hike
The communistic pleasures of a union strike
The president shelters in his bed at night
It's hard days livin' in the world
The soldier in the desert with a shot to the heart
As his mother gets the letter saying he fought hard
It doesn't help the matter if he's honored or not
It's hard days livin' in the world
The choir sings a hymnal in staccato spurts
The family in the front row looking to hurt
And everyone's an angel for whatever it's worth
It's hard days livin' in the world
I know that I was given everything I could take
From the moment I was livin' I was dyin' to make
Nothing out of something or real out of fake
It's hard days livin' in the world