[Verse 1]
My mother told me before she passed away
Said, Son, when I'm gone, don't forget to pray
Because there'll be hard times, Lord, those hard times
Who knows better than I?

[Verse 2]
Well, I soon found out just what she meant
When I had to pawn my clothes just to pay the rent
Talkin' about hard times, oh those hard times
Who knows better than I?

[Verse 3]
I had a woman who was always around
But when I lost my money, she put me down
Talkin' about hard times, Lord, those hard
Yea yea, who knows better than I?

[Verse 4]
Lord, one of these days
There'll be no more sorrow when I pass away
And no more hard time, no more hard
Yea yea, who knows better than I?