E A There's an old man sittin' in a rented room E B7 E Sittin' and watchin' the wall E A Tryin' to remember the good ole days E B7 E And wonderin' why the kids don't call E A They used to go drivin' in the summer sun E B7 E When his woman was alive E A Now he reads his Gideon Bible and waits E B7 E For his welfare check to arrive [Chorus] A E B7 E He got the hard time hungrys doin' the best that he can A E C#m E B7 E Lord the hard time hungrys are spreadin' all over the land [Verse] E A There's a Tennessee housewife shoppin' in the market E B7 E Wearin' last year's jeans E A She picks up a roast then changes her mind E B7 E Puts it back down and buys some more beans E A Her old man's workin' in the filling station E B7 E And what's he gonna say E A When he sits down to a table full of nothin' E B7 E After workin' like a dog all day [Chorus] A E B7 E They got the hard time hungrys doin' the best that they can A E C#m E B7 E I see the hard time hungrys spreadin' all over the land [Verse] E A A Mississippi farmer he watchin' the sky E B7 E Wonderin' if it's gonna rain E A The payment's due on the tractor Lord E B7 E And the subsidy's been taken away E A And in New York City a taxicab driver E B7 E Screams at the world outside E A Cause it sure is hot and nobody's got E B7 E The money for a cross town ride [Chorus] A E B7 E Lord they got the hard time hungrys doin' the best that they can A E C#m E B7 E I see the hard time hungrys spreadin' all over the land [Verse] E A Now I ain't no preacher and I ain't no teacher E B7 E But one thing's sure as the sun E A If the dollar keeps a droppin' and prices keep a risin' E B7 E The worst is yet to come [Chorus] A E B7 E We got the hard time hungrys I feel it touchin' my hand A E C#m E B7 E Lord I see the hard time hungrys spreadin' all over the land A E C#m E B7 E Yes I see the hard time hungrys spreadin' all over the land