Nick Shaheen Hard Times lyrics

He set off for sea when he joined the corps
Thinking life needs something more
Now he's fighting for whatever, he ain't sure what for
It's hard times coming from a single shore

Reading from a letter signed with his name
Screaming at his picture that he's all to blame
But she keeps on crying just the same
It's hard times coming from a single frame

Crying in her pillow, Ma can hardly bear
Bible in hand, sends a plea up in the air
With a million other mothers, does he even care?
It's hard times coming from a single prayer

And he's out after two years for drunken assault
Pa bursts in the door, comes to a halt
Sees an empty room, his eyes turn to salt
It's hard times coming from a single malt


Girl's eyes are red, Ma's not doing well
Pa's out of prison now his son's in hell
And he don't know where to go or who to tell
It's hard times coming from a single cell

Staring back at the shore, he heads west
Pa's back in prison on his third arrest
Ma's losing hope, but he'll pass her test
And that girl got married, it's probably for the best

He never found it in a bottle, couldn't see it in the sky
It wasn't in somebody else or the shot wound in his thigh
But he'll keep on looking, never asking why
It's hard times coming, but they'll pass him by

Hard times but they're gonna pass him by