Many years you have lingered around my cabin door
Oh hard times come again no more
Oh hard times come again no more
Oh hush a bye hard times, go ye away
Cause my hungry baby wants a gingerbread cake
Not a cow in the barn yard no money to spend
Not an egg in the hayloft, no little red hen

Chorus:

So, hush a bye baby don't cry no more
Your mama can't give you what you're crying for
There's a wolf at the door with an angry
Cold hungry stare, he keeps howling of hard times
And the cupboard is bare

Oh, hush a bye hard times go ye to rest
Cause my ragged baby wants a new ruffled dress
And she wants some new shoes with buckles to wear
And she wants some silver bows for her golden hair

Repeat chorus twice

Hush a bye hard times go ye away
I don't intend to be treated this way

So, hush a bye baby
Hush a bye hard times
Hush a bye baby
Don't cry no more
Hush a bye hard times
Hush a bye baby
Hush a bye hard times
Come ye no more

Fade:

Many years you have lingered around my cabin door
Hush a bye hard times
Come ye no more
Hush a bye baby
Hush a bye hard times
Hush a bye baby
Don't cry no more
Hush a bye hard times
Hush a bye baby
Hush a bye hard times
Come ye no more