Before she passed away Said "Son when I'm gone Don't forget to pray" 'Cause there'll be hard times Hard times oh yeah, yeah Who knows better than I? Well I soon found out Just what she meant When I had to pawn my clothes Just to pay my rent Talkin' about hard times Hard time oh yeah, yeah Who knows better than I? I had a woman Who was always around But when I lost my money She put me down Talkin' about hard times You know that hard times Lord who knows better than I? Yeah Lord yeah, one of these days There'll be no more sorrow When I pass away And no more hard times I said "No more hard times" Yeah Lord who knows Yeah Lord better than I Before she passed away Said "Son when I'm gone