Come you ladies and you gentlemen, a-listen to my song
Sing it to you right, but you might think it's wrong
Just a little glimpse of a story I'll tell
About a Gulf Coast city that you all know well
It's hard times in the country
Livin' down in New Orleans
Got a lotta people talkin
About a lot goin' on
But if you don't have love
You ain't got nothin' at all
You don't need a name, no power or fame
You just need a little love in your heart
I'm sitting down here by Burgundy Street
I see all these people a-shuffling their feet
I'm trying to keep the rhythm while they walk to the beat
Yeah, and feel a little love in their hearts
It sure is nice down in New Orleans
Got lots of cars, but less and less trees
We got City Park to fill up our lungs
We need that golf course like we need more guns
Yeah, it's hard times in the country
Livin' down in New Orleans
You can holler about justice
And you can yell against war
If you sing about peace you know you got my support
I'm trying to make a difference with a little bit of love
I don't want to sing these blues anymore
'Cause it's hard times in the country
Hard times for you and me
Yeah, it's hard times in the city
Livin' down in New Orleans