Capo 1
 
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There was a Camptown man who used to plow and sing
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       He loved that mule and the mule loved him
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When the day got long as it does about now
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      I'd hear him singing to his muley cow
 
            C
Calling come on my sweet old girl
C
I?d bet the whole damn world
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We?re gonna make it yet to the end of the row
 
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Singing hard times ain?t gonna rule my mind
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Hard times ain?t gonna rule my mind, Bessie
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Hard times ain?t gonna rule? my mind
      C
No more
 
He said it's a big old world, heavy in need
That big machine is just a-picking up speed
We're supping on tears and we're supping on wine
But we all get to heaven in our own sweet time
 
So come on you Asheville boys
Turn up your old time noise
Kick till the dust comes up from the cracks in the floor
 
Singing hard times ain't gonna rule my mind, brother
Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind
Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind
No more
 
But the Camptown man he doesn't plow no more
I seen him walking down to the superette store
Guess he lost that nag and he forgot that song
Woke up one morning and the mule was gone
 
So come all ye ragtime kings
Come on you dogs that sing
Pick up your dusty old horn and give it a blow
 
Singing hard times ain't gonna rule my mind
Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind, sugar
Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind
No more