Worked in the cotton mill all my life,
Ain't got nothing but a barlow knife.
And it's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times everywhere.
In 1915 we heard it said,
"Move to cotton country and get ahead."
And it's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times everywhere.
Yes, it's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard time cotton mill girls
It's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times everywhere.
Country folks we must've been ill
For leaving our farms and coming to the mill.
And it's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times everywhere.
See that train go a round the curve,
She's loaded down with cotton mill girls.
And it's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times everywhere.
Yes, it's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard time cotton mill girls
It's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times everywhere.
Us poor girls work ten hours a day
For fourteen cents of measly pay.
And it's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times everywhere.
They raised our wages up half a cent more,
But they went up a dime at the company store.
And it's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times everywhere.
Yes, it's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard time cotton mill girls
It's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times everywhere.
Come down stairs to get a drink of water,
Along comes the boss, says, "I'll dock you a quarter."
And it's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times everywhere.
Card room kids and spinning room babies
Can't keep up with the weave shop ladies.
And it's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times everywhere.
Yes, it's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard time cotton mill girls
It's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times everywhere.
When I die, don't bury me at all,
Just hang my body from the spinning room wall,
And pickle my bones in al-ki-hol,
Hard times everywhere.
Yes, it's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard time cotton mill girls
It's hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times everywhere.
recording: Candice Corrigan with Janne Henshaw (harmony), Al Goll (dobro), & Sarah Wilfong (fiddle) [YouTube]
background: thorough song history and list of source recordings [Stephen Griffith]
background: discography [Mainly Norfolk]