Saturday, September 10, 2016

"HARD TIMES COME AGAIN NO MORE"

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.

[Chorus:]
Tis the song, the sigh of the weary,
Hard times, hard times, come again no more
Many days you have lingered around 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.

There's a pale drooping maiden who toils her life away,
With a worn heart whose better days are o'er:
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 lowly grave
Oh hard times come again no more.

[Chorus]


FROM WIKIPEDIA

Hard Times Come Again No More

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Cover of the sheet music, 1854
Published
New York: Firth, Pond & Co. (1854)
Form
Strophic with chorus
Language
English


"Hard Times Come Again No More," (sometimes, "Hard Times") is an American parlor song written by Stephen Foster. It was published in New York by Firth, Pond & Co. in 1854 as Foster's Melodies No. 28. Well-known and popular in its day,[1] both in America and Europe,[2][3] the song asks the fortunate to consider the plight of the less fortunate and ends with one of Foster's favorite images: "a pale drooping maiden".
The first audio recording was a wax cylinder by the Edison Manufacturing Company (Edison Gold Moulded 9120) in 1905. It has been recorded and performed numerous times since. The song isRoud Folk Song Index #2659.
A satirical version about soldier's food was popular in the American Civil WarHard Tack Come Again No More.

Original sheet music
1.
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.


Chorus:
'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary,
Hard Times, hard times, come again no more
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door;
Oh! Hard times come again no more.

2.
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.


Chorus

3.
There's a pale drooping maiden who toils her life away,
With a worn heart whose better days are o'er:
Though her voice would be merry, 'tis sighing all the day,
Oh! Hard times come again no more.
Chorus

4.
'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.


Chorus

In media

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band made "Hard Times" a focal piece of their 2009 Working on a Dream Tour.

"Hard Times Come Again No More" has been included in the following:

Dolly Parton opens her 1980 song "Hush-A-Bye Hard Times" with an a cappella verse from the song.

Recorded by Irish singer Mary Black on her 1984 album Collected.

On Syd Straw's 1989 debut album Surprise, Straw and X frontman and solo artist John Doe recorded a version of the song.

By Kate & Anna McGarrigle on the 1991 Songs of the Civil War collection.

By Emmylou Harris in her 1992 live album At the Ryman.

By Bob Dylan for his 1992 album Good as I Been to You.
As the penultimate track on the 1992 debut album from The Lost DogsScenic Routes.

In Series One (1995) of the "Transatlantic Sessions", Hard Times Come Again No More was performed by an ensemble composed of Kate and Anna McGarrigleRufus WainwrightEmmylou HarrisMary BlackKaren Matheson and Rod Paterson.

The 1995 movie Georgia with Mare Winningham and Jennifer Jason Leigh sung by Mare Winningham and band.

The 1995 movie The Neon Bible performed by Thomas Hampson.

Ambassadors of Harmony perform an a cappella male chorus barbershop arrangement on their 2000 album Sing Sing Sing![4]

The 2000 Appalachian Journey, for voice & piano with Edgar Meyer (bass), James Taylor (vocals) Mark O'Connor (violin or fiddle) and Yo-Yo Ma (cello).

Johnny Cash on the Redemption Songs disc of the 2003 Unearthed box set of out-takes and alternate versions from his American Recordingsseries.

Mavis Staples recorded it for the Grammy award-winning album Beautiful Dreamer (2004).

In 2005, the song was included in the soundtrack Cameron Crowe's Elizabethtown, performed by Eastmountainsouth.
The 2005 film My Brother's War by Whitney Hamilton.

Matthew Perryman Jones included it on his 2006 album Throwing Punches in the Dark.

Andru Bemis recorded it on his 2006 album Rail to Reel.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's 2009 Working on a Dream Tour and captured on their 2010-released London Calling: Live in Hyde Park concert video.

In the Season 2 finale of Parenthood by the same name, the song was contributed to the soundtrack by Brett Dennen.

The 2012 Voice of Ages by The Chieftains, with Paolo Nutini.

The 2012 Eesti Kullafond collection of Estonian folk-pop group Folkmill.[5]

An Iron & Wine performance featured in commercials promoting the 2012 Copper television series on BBC America.

Black 47, on the 2014 album Last Call.

The 2014 9/11 Memorial commemoration (bagpipes adaption).
Kristin Chenoweth performed the song on her 2014 live album Coming Home.

Katy Treharne sings it on the Tearfund with 'West End has Faith' 2015 album Speechless.[6]

Annie Moses Band performed the song on their 2015 album American Rhapsody.

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