Every mornin' at half past four
You hear the cooks hop on the floor
It's hard times in the mill my love
Hard times in the mill

Every morning just at five
Gotta get up, dead or alive
It's hard times in the mill my love
Hard times in the mill

Every mornin' right at six
Don't that ol' bell make you sick
Hard times in the mill my love
Hard times in the mill
The pulley got hot, the belt jumped off
Knocked Mr Guyan's derby off
It's hard times in the mill my love
Hard times in the mill

And ol' Pat Goble thinks he's a Hun
He puts me in mind of a doodle in the sun
It's hard times in the mill my love
Hard times in the mill

Section hand he thinks he's a man
He ain't got sense to pay off his hands
It's hard times in the mill my love
Hard times in the mill

They steal his ring, they steal his knife
Steal everything but his big fat wife
It's hard times in the mill my love
Hard times in the mill

My bobbin's all out, my end's all down
The doffer's in my alley an'
I can't get around
It's hard times in the mill my love
Hard times in the mill

The section hand, standin' at the door
Ordering the sweepers to sweep up the floor
It's hard times in the mill my love
Hard times in the mill
An' every night when I go home
A piece o' cornbread an' an ol' jawbone
It's hard times in the mill my love
Hard times in the mill

Ain't it enough to break your heart
Have to work all day
An' at night it's dark
It's hard times in the mill my love
Hard times in the mill