It has been so dry, you can make a powder house out of the world Well, it has been so dry, you can make a powder house out of the world And holler money mens, like a rattlesnake in his coil I throwed up my hands, Lord, and solemnly swore I have throwed up my hands, Lord, and solemnly swore Well, ain't no need of me changing towns, it's the drought everywhere I go It's a dry old spell everywhere I been Oh, it's a dry old spell everywhere I been I believe to my soul this old world is bound to end Well, I stood in my backyard, wrung my hands and screamed Well, I stood in my backyard, wrung my hands and screamed Well, I couldn't see nothing, couldn't see nothing green Oh, Lord, have mercy if you please Oh, Lord, have mercy if you please Let your rain come down and give our poor hearts ease These blues, these blues is worthwhile to be heard Oh, these blues, worthwhile to be heard Lord, t'ain't even likely that there ain't no God Hard times here an' everywhere you go Times is harder than ever been befo' An' the people are driftin' from do' to do' Can't fin' no help, Lord, I don' care where they go Oh, hmmm Let me tell you people, jus' befo' I go These hard times will give you the dry long fo' Hmmm When you hear me singin' my ol' lonesome song These hard times can't last up so very long Hmmm If I ever get off this shit-ass flo' I'll never get down this low no mo' Oh, hmmm, ah, hmmm, I'll never get down this low no mo' An' you say you have money, you better be sho' 'Cause these hard times will drive you from do' to do' Hmmm Hmmm Sing this song, ain' gone sing no mo' Hmmm Hard times will drive you from do' to do'