Hard Times Come Again No More
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Stephen Foster was known as "the Father of American Music" and has been called "the most famous songwriter of the nineteenth century". He wrote over 200 songs many of which remain popular more than 150 years later. Among his best known songs are "Oh! Susanna", "Hard Times Come Again No More", and "Camptown Races". Most of his songs were written long before the war so they were considered old favorites and were well known to soldiers on both sides.
"Hard Times Come Again No More" was especially popular during the war because it spoke to the desire for things to improve. It has been recorded many times and continues to be recorded by artists today.
Hard Times Come Again No More
Stephen Foster, 1854
Singer: Molly Mason
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."
'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary
Hard times, hard times come again no more.
Every day you have lingered upon my cabin door:
"Oh, Hard Times Come Again No More."
'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.
'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary
Hard times, hard times come again no more.
Every day you have lingered upon my cabin door:
"Oh, Hard Times Come Again No More."
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.
'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary
Hard times, hard times come again no more.
Every day you have lingered upon my cabin door:
"Oh, Hard Times Come Again No More."
Here is another interpretation of the song with great harmonies. It is sung by sisters Lennon and Maisy Stella. It was recorded in 2013 when they were only 10 and 14!