Cat. #1388 (MFH #254) - As sung by Joan O'Bryant, Wichita, Kansas on
VERSE 1
Come all you people, I'll tell you a tale
How they feed in th Fort Smith jail
An' its hard times, poor boy
It's hard times in th Fort Smith jail
It's hard times, poor boy
VERSE 2
For supper they give you a piece of twice twine
Tell you it'll do till th day, fine
An' its hard times, poor boy
It's hard times in th Fort Smith jail
It's hard times, poor boy
VERSE 3
For breakfast they'll give you cold biscuits an' tea
A cup of black coffee an' a piece of fat meat
Its hard times, poor boy
It's hard times in th Fort Smith jail
It's hard times, poor boy
VERSE 4
O prisoner, O prisoner, O tell me what you know
An over th road I'll be wantin' t' go
Its hard times, poor boy
It's hard times in th Fort Smith jail
It's hard times, poor boy
VERSE 5
O jailer, O jailer, you know mighty well
Before I give over, I'll see you in Hell
Well its hard times, poor boy
It's hard times in th Fort Smith jail
It's hard times, poor boy
VERSE 6
O jailer, O jailer, O lend me your knife
These dirty bedbugs, they threaten my life
An' its hard times, poor boy
It's hard times in th Fort Smith jail
It's hard times, poor boy
VERSE 7
Their dirty red rugs, eat up with th dirty bedbugs
Hard times, poor boy
It's hard times in th Fort Smith jail
It's hard times, poor boy
VERSE 8
Their, nits an' their lice, their flying to th jiest
They won't come down for th six-bit price
An' its hard times, poor boy
It's hard times in th Fort Smith jail
It's hard times, poor boy