[Verse 1 Ira Wolf] There was a camp town 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 Id hear him singing to his mule cow [Chorus 1 Ira Wolf and Lee Henke] Calling, Come on my sweet old girl I bet the whole damn world Were gonna make it yet to the end of the row Singing, Hard times aint gonna rule my mind Hard times aint gonna rule my mind, Bessie Hard times aint gonna rule my mind no more [Verse 2 Ira Wolf] I said its a mean old world, heavy in need And that big machine is just picking up speed And were supping on tears and were supping on wine We all get to heaven in our own sweet time [Chorus 2] So come all you Asheville boys Turn up your oldtime noise And kick til the dust comes up from the cracks in the floor Singing, Hard times aint gonna rule my mind Hard times aint gonna rule my mind, honey Hard times aint gonna rule my mind no more [Verse 3 Ira Wolf] But the camp town man, he doesnt plow no more I seen him walking down to the cigarette store Guess he lost that nag, he forgot that song He woke up one morning and the mule was gone [Chorus 3 Ira Wolf and Lee Henke] So come all you ragtime kings And come all you dogs, and sing Pick up the dusty old horn and give it a blow Singing, Hard times aint gonna rule my mind Hard times aint gonna rule my mind, honey Hard times aint gonna rule my mind no more
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