There was a camptown man
Used to plow and sing
He loved that mule, and the mule loved him

When the day got long, as it does about now
I'd hear him singing to his muley cow
Come on my sweet old girl
And I'd bet the whole damn world
We're going to make it yet
Til the end of the road

Sayin' hard times, ain't going to ruin my mind
Hard times, ain't going to ruin my mind
I say hard times, ain't going to ruin our mind, no more

Said it's a mean old world
Heavy and need
That big machine is just a picking up speed
They were sipping on tears
They were sipping on wine
We all get to Heaven in our own sweet time

So come on you Ashville boys
Turn up the old time noise
And kick til the dust comes up
From the cracks in the floor

Sayin' hard times, ain't going to ruin my mind
Hard times, ain't going to ruin my mind
Hard times, ain't going to ruin our mind, no more

But the camptown man
He doesn't plow no more
I seen him walking down to the cigarette store
I guess lost that knack and he forgot that song
Woke up one morning and the mule was gone

So come on you ragged on kings
Come on you dogs and sing
And pick up the dust of
?

Sayin' hard times, ain't going to ruin my mind
Honey, hard times, ain't going to ruin my mind
Sugar, hard times, ain't going to ruin our minds, no more