My name is Hallie Lonnigan I married Walter Jones
for better or for worse so said the Reverend Dr. Stone
but the better times are all used up and the worse times took control
then drinking took my Walter may the lord protect his soul
along with two young kids to raise out on the western plains
my children harmonized with wolves and sang just like the rain
but haulin hay and water were the desperate daily facts
and the years have carved their memories in the muscles of my back
Hallie Lonnigan will tell these truths to you
hard times the only times I ever new
hard luck's the only horse I ever drew
hard work's the only way I made it through
then I married for convenience sake a trader from in town
a blacksmith named Charlie Hawk who'd court me on his rounds
but he'd paw me like a wolverine and there's cheatin' in his blood
he fell upon my butcher knife and crawled off through the mud
well no one was the wiser when ol Charlie disappeared
and me and them poor children never shed one single tear
we can run this place on our own don't need no drunks or cheats
and the men they step aside now when I walk down market street
Hallie Lonnigan will tell these truths to you
hard times the only times I ever new
hard luck's the only horse I ever drew
hard work's the only way I made it through
this land was conquered by brave men your history books will say
proud men upon fast horses drove the indian away
my name is Hallie Lonnigan I'll have you all to know
that the secret of your history is in a workin woman's soul
Hallie Lonnigan will tell these truths to you
hard times the only times I ever new
hard luck's the only horse I ever drew
hard work's the only way I made it through
hard work's the only way I made it through