Come you ladies and you gentlemen and listen to my song Sing it to you right, but you might think it's wrong May make you mad, but I mean no harm It's just about the renters on Penny's farm It's hard times in the country Out on Penny's farm You move out on Penny's farm. Plant a little crop of 'bacco and a little crop of corn Come around to see you gonna flit and plot Till he gets himself a mortgage On everything you got It's hard times in the country Out on Penny's farm Hasn't George Penny got a flattering mouth? Move you to the country in a little log house Got nothing it but the cracks in the wall He'll work you in the summer and rob you in the fall It's hard times in the country Out on Penny's farm You go in the fields and you work all day Till way after night, but you get no pay Promise you meat or a little lard It's hard to be a renter on Penny's farm It's hard times in the country Out on Penny's farm Here's George Penny, he'll come into town With his wagon-load of peaches, not one of them is sound He's got to have his money or somebody's check You pay him for a bushel and you don't get a peck It's hard times in the country Out on Penny's farm George Penny's renters, they'll come into town With their hands in their pockets, and their head a-hanging down Go in the store and the merchant will say "Your mortgage is due and I'm looking for my pay." It's hard times in the country Out on Penny's farm Down in his pocket with a trembling hand "Can't pay you all, but I'll pay you what I can" Then to the telephone the merchant make a call They'll put you on the chain gang don't pay it all It's hard times in the country Out on Penny's farm