Dylan, Bob - Hard Times In New York Town Lyrics






Come you ladies and you gentlemen, a-listen to my song
Sing it to you right, but you might think it's wrong
Just a little glimpse of a story I'll tell
'Bout an East Coast city that you all know well
It's hard times in the city
Livin' down in New York town

Old New York City is a friendly old town
From Washington Heights to Harlem on down
There's a-mighty many people all millin' all around
They'll kick you when you're up and knock you when you're down
It's hard times in the city
Livin' down in New York town

It's a mighty long ways from the Golden Gate
To Rockefeller Plaza 'n' the Empire State.
Mister Rockefeller sets up as high as a bird
Old Mister Empire never says a word
It's hard times from the country
Livin' down in New York town

Well, it's up in the mornin' tryin' to find a job of work
Stand in one place till your feet begin to hurt
If you got a lot o' money you can make yourself merry
If you only got a nickel, it's the Staten Island Ferry
And it's hard times in the city
Livin' down in New York town

Mister Hudson come a-sailin' down the stream
And old Mister Minuet paid for his dream
Bought your city on a one-way track
'F I had my way I'd sell it right back
And it's hard times in the city
Livin' down in New York town

I'll take all the smog in Cal-i-for-ne-ay
'N' every bit of dust in the Oklahoma plains
'N' the dirt in the caves of the Rocky Mountain mines
It's all much cleaner than the New York kind
And it's hard times in the city
Livin' down in New York town

So all you newsy people, spread the news around
You c'n listen to m' story, listen to m' song
You c'n step on my name, you c'n try 'n' get me beat
When I leave New York, I'll be standin' on my feet
And it's hard times in the city
Livin' down in New York town





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Dylan, Bob Hard Times In New York Town Comments
  1. W.... B....

    I been listening to this song since 2015,
    Still can’t get over it.......

  2. M.... ....

    I broke my arm

  3. d.... ....

    Dylan 2018

  4. H.... o....

    Byb Dolan 👌

  5. D.... P....

    Listening to this walking down east 86th street...

  6. W.... T....

    one love - bob marley - Babylon system

  7. B.... ....

    Come you ladies and you gentlemen, a-listen to my song.
    Sing it to you right, but you might think it's wrong.
    Just a little glimpse of a story I'll tell
    'Bout an East Coast city that you all know well.
    It's hard times in the country,

    Livin' down in New York town.
    Old New York City is a friendly old town,
    From Washington Heights to Harlem on down.
    There's a-mighty many people all millin' all around,
    They'll kick you when you're up and knock you when you're down.
    It's hard times in the country,
    Livin' down in New York town.

    It's a mighty long ways from the Golden Gate
    To Rockefeller Plaza n' the Empire State.
    Mister Empire sets up as high as a bird,
    Old Mister Rockefeller never says a word.
    It's hard times from the country,
    Livin' down in New York town.

    Well, it's up in the mornin' tryin' to fins a job of work.
    Stand in one place till your feet begin to hurt.
    If you go a lot o' money you can make yourself merry,
    If you only got a nickel, it's the Staten Island Ferry.
    And it's hard times in the country,
    Livin' down in New York town.

    Mister Hudson come a-sailin' down the stream
    And old Mister Minuet paid for his dream.
    Bought your city on a one-way track,
    'F I had my way I'd sell it right back.
    And it's hard times from the country,
    Livin' down in New York town.

    I'll take all the smog in Cal-i-for-ne-ay,
    'N' every bit of dust in the Oklahoma plains,
    'N' the dirt in the caves of the Rocky Mountain mines.
    It's all much cleaner than the New York kind.
    And it's hard times in the country,
    Livin' down in New York town.

    So all you newsy people, spread the news around,
    You c'n listen to m' story, listen to m' song.
    You c'n step on my name, you c'n try 'n' get me beat,
    When I leave New York, I'll be standin' on my feet.
    And it's hard times in the country,
    Livin' down in New York town.

  8. C.... B....

    Wow, He really had no idea that he WOULD become rich and VERY famous. So cooool!! That's 1 of the reasons I've loved him so much, for so long. He's not full of himself like so many people are or have become.

  9. C.... B....

    I wish this was now. Does anyone know what i mean by that? He seemed so "FRESH"! Or maybe the word i'm looking for is Innocent. Even still, his fame never seemed to get too much control of him.

  10. m.... t....

    20 years old. Already destined to be a Nobel.

  11. D.... F....

    That's awesome.... I have grown up near lake placid and all ties to Ulster and NYC. This song hit's an Adirondack cat who's immediate family associate's more with Manhattan college, Fordham university and NYC slash long island, Queens Etc. Whilst I hover there.... 'A person goes a missing and you're never going to know'- that line was pretty telling of the honest, curiosity an outta towner might feel whilst say partying in the city. Struck me

  12. g.... ....

    Great to have this live performance -- thanks to the uploader. This is a true treasure.

    g.... ....

    PIRACICABA. S.P BRAZIL

  13. G.... '....

    I have this whole interview and set dylan played.. on vinyl and it's awesome with the crackles real gem

    G.... '....

    upload it!

  14. B.... L....

    "I'm never gonna be rich and famous." LOL!!

  15. 2.... ....

    'Mr rockerfella sits high as a bird, while Mr. Empire never says a word.' Bob Dylan, a genius.

  16. e.... ....

    "Oh I'm never going to be rich and famous..." 

  17. L.... W....

    2:40
    "which you're rich and famous you can wear the hat too?"
    "Oh, I'm never going to be rich and famous" - Bob Dylan 1962!

    L.... W....

    @Linden Wilkie Only took about a year aswell from that point

    L.... W....

    @Linden Wilkie He's never really lost that modesty. He's so reluctant to admit and accept what he means to people. Well, Bob... greatness is born and it can't be traded.

    L.... W....

    +Linden Wilkie errare humanum est

    L.... W....

    +Linden Wilkie errare humanum est

    L.... W....

    though he s rich now

  18. R.... P....

    or key of A...not quite sure.

  19. R.... P....

    jake!!!

  20. R.... P....

    this must be in key of G i think...loved dylans phrasing in this period. jack bugg is older than 16 by the way...hes about 21 i think. not that it matters.

    R.... P....

    Please don't tell me some gimp is making a comparison between the two?

    R.... P....

    +richie reader Key of C, capo on 2 (so, sounding in D).

  21. S.... M....

    how could anyone, put a thumbs down for this?

  22. c.... s....

    chords and/or bass note progression anyone??

    c.... s....

    +caleb s It's just C, F and G (capo 2).

  23. M.... N....

    Aaaahhh Bob, you are superb all the way

  24. T.... ....

    i fucking love dickss.

    T.... ....

    give me dickss

  25. S.... B....

    It's hard times from the country living down the New York town. 

  26. a.... ....

    a very big thank you for this. very beautiful

  27. S.... B....

    I love the women's tone in her voice.

  28. u.... f....

    i need this album!!!!!

  29. z.... c....

    how do you play this my chordify is broken

  30. N.... M....

    TOTAL SUCCESS

  31. c.... ....

    nvmd just found out on wiki that Joan Baez is from SI. That answers my question

  32. c.... ....

    wait, the staten island ferry used to cost a nickel? Maybe dylan's referring to heading back to home to SI after not finding work in manhattan (from the previous lyric)...wonder if he ever stayed in SI...

    c.... ....

    Yes, it cost a nickel into the 70's or 80s, then it went up to a quarter...don't know what it is now. It was the perfect cheap date.

  33. I.... R....

    New York is for the rich there still lot of racism

  34. m.... r....

    Jake Bugg is surely a legend in the works but his own type of status.. i dont think he exactly follows the early shadow of Bob. But i agree!! Jake is one of my fav singers!! hes got such soul in his songs. :)

  35. C.... M....

    Can anyone translate this song into Portuguese for me?

  36. a.... ....

    That's a very nice song Bob Dylan

  37. F.... F....

    if you like him try Jake Bugg a 16 year old kid kinda reminds me of this early stuff

  38. i.... ....

    He said " old Mr empire never says a word" should it not be Mr rockafeller?

  39. H.... S....

    He was talking ironically!

  40. W.... ....

    Love this song. Love New York City. The city sure has improved since he wrote this... great song still though.

  41. S.... M....

    hey he did radio back then! Never realised.

  42. s.... ....

    One dislike; some of us just don't believe in fairy tales

  43. i.... ....

    Bob has always got a song I'd listen to again.

  44. E.... M....

    Bob got this song from the Bently Boys and changed the lyrics around a bit. Original song was Down on Penny;s Farm. Check it out.

  45. M.... ....

    Dylan is the best

  46. T.... L....

    I am from europe austria and i think that you could change the lyrics from New York to Athens becouse it explanes a lot of the crisis theory problems in this days in europe !!

  47. j.... ....

    such a shame that posters of good stuff succomb to the google boogle of promised profits of having a crap advertizement on their upload.......sad suckers.............

  48. M.... A....

    thanks for posting all this. made my day :)

  49. I.... R....

    when you become famous!? ahhhhh, love it.

  50. B.... F....

    love love love love love love love love this

  51. g.... ....

    This version has been so hard to find - thanks.

  52. j.... ....

    thankyou man.......groovy

  53. d.... ....

    "im never gonna become rich and famous"