Hard Times Come Again No More

[andypandywright]

a great version of a great song - and marvellous photos to accompany it - great job!

[ohiodixiechick2]

Griffith's song here is like a knife cutting into our heart for hard times have come again ..now for many of us in middle class America let alone the already poor here in this land who never recovered from HARD TIMES! This old Civil WAR song fits our country & all even less fortunate countries. Let us ALL pray for better times! This is my favorite version of this song. Nancy voice let's us feel the hard times. Thoughts of this song made me cry this morning for how do we help if we need,also?

[Iddybud]

@ohiodixiechick2 Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I hear you loudly, clearly.

[bluebirdsin]

Mare Winningham's version is by far the best yet. This version is nice too, but Mare's is perfection.

[1raymio]

come again ! love this version .

[bluueboi51]

wheres mary"s version cant find it

[SimSystems]

I'm sharing this because it's one I'm trying to learn on the uke. Haven't heard it before today. Nice tune.

[xixibaba45]

再一次听，依然潸然泪下。

[bgroovy2]

Great song. Is this America's future?

[HEDGEHOG19788]

A cover of an old Civil War era song I ran across, still popular today

[bulbheadmyass]

Magnificent version of this great song.

[timetowakeup00]

great performance!!! stephen foster was a genius!

[notdarkyet1]

@timetowakeup00 moved by the performance of Bob Dylan in Marseille 1993, but deeply touched now by this unique performance that remains in my heart.

Thanks a lot Iddybud

[randomdude108]

Always keep a few pounds in your pocket so you can give it to some one who needs it.

[ExclusiveVideosEV]

5 * * * * *

.

[besorich1]

David Marshall's bluegrass band has an acapello version that is very good.

[chickspirit]

very moving. thanks for posting =)

[upthegills27]

Thank you for posting - great song.

We can drive away the hard times, please donate to MSF (Medical aid without borders)

Listen then act.

Thank you Iddybud.

[Iddybud]

Mary gave me chills - her version was like no other. Wonderful talent - great heart.

[1ivingHe11]

@Iddybud Griffith's is raw and unaffected. Blige's was overly smooth and dramatic. It's too Disney.

[Iddybud]

To each his own.

[newsaw185]

What a great song! Mary J. Blige rendition was powerful and inspiring. I am was compelled to buy the iTune songs on Hope for Haiti Now.

[Iddybud]

I, too, loved Mary J.'s performance. Powerful, powerful. I was tremendously moved by it.

[timoteocorazon]

Nancy Griffith a class act and soulful rendition of this classic. You might also enjoy versions by Mary Black and De Dannan and friends.

[MsNursecarol]

I was touched by Mary's rendition. Simply beautiful! Great lyrics.

[shirleyls3]

Hard times come again no more - I just heard Mary J. Blige sing this on hope for Haiti and I just had to find this song. Hard times come again no more.

[jooleecee]

@shirleyls3 That really was beautiful...she did a great job.

[dcolemn]

@shirleyls3 I too, just heard M,J> Blige sing this and...WOW!!! A great rendition and an appropriate piece...

[chicachoo53]

@dcolemn that's why I'm here. What a beautiful, meaningful. M.J. Blige voice is so inspiring.

[dcolemn]

I hope that Mary J.'s rendition is soon on Youtube...I was soo moved, and I can't get that tune off of my mind.

[berkamore]

@dcolem

Same here. Didn't know the song but her cover made my heart ache.......

[PooBah891]

Great piece by a great voice---but the title makes it look like she wrote it =which she did not. Nicely done montages to go along with a beautiful piece.

[Iddybud]

@PooBah891 Thanks! The credit to Stephen Foster is in the main description.

[mitch26]

This is nice, I love Mavis Staples' version.

[smithstar4]

Great Song-Great Singer-A female Bob Dylan-And that's high praise.

[letsif]

I agree. I would just love to hear Bob sing this song, in any of his numerous voices. In the meantime, check out Bob singing Gershwin's "Soon". He gives it a very beautiful, fragile treatment.

[colincoby]

Check out Dylan's As Good as I Been to You album. Track 7.

It was actually on Dylan's album that I first heard this beautiful song.

[smithstar4]

Great Singer-Great Song-t's sad but true

[Sausageo69]

wonderful song, wonderful message...

TERRIBLE SINGER

[fourscore100]

Sweet,touching song and good production work on the vid!

[valverdista]

Emmylou Harris also makes a superb version of this touching song with The Nash Ramblers in the album Live at the Ryman.Just amazing.

[Bm52]

To think this song was popular during the US Civil War.How true in today's life.Makes one think.

[dgarnes1]

I have loved this song for years, and Nanci Griffith's is one more beautiful interpretation...It's absolutely true to the spirit of the song. Thanks so much for posting.

Two other great versions: Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and Mavis Staples.

[babsy1955]

This is the perfect version by which to learn how to play and sing this song. Artists interpretations will always vary but when you sing and record a song you put yourself into it. This is the Nancy Griffith interpretation of a classic, it's a beautiful rendition with heartfelt singing. I really don't care how she pronounced lingered. If it bothers you then don't listen to it.

[deckyeti]

I love this song. I love Nanci Griffith and almost everything about this version of Hard Times. But I can't get past her exaggerated and mispronounced delivery of the word "lingered". It ruins it for me. Too bad.

[deckyeti]

I just noticed the earlier comments suggesting this version of Hard Times is 'jarring and anachronistic '. I'm not so sure. Syncopation has been used at least since the Middle Ages. Foster's other songs use broken and unconventional rhythms. Why wouldn't this one? The instumentation is hightly appropriate to the period. This could well be the way Foster wanted this song to be performed.

Except he probably didn't intend for "lingered" to be pronounced "LING-GAWD".

[jimmietfreeway]

okay version.. i agree that it's a great song.. just not my preferred version/arrangement.. i really like Nanci's voice and love most all of her other songs...the video clips are awesome in the background ... for example, her version of Dylan's boots of spanish leather.. A++++

[dreiband]

How did he indicate the syncopation in the sheet music?

Just because someone "went back to" the sheet music means nothing about what Stephan Foster wanted.

I do not believe the syncopation is appropriate. If you like it, fine. I don't give a damn.

Stop spamming me.

[dreiband]

Can you not understand what I said?

This is a GREAT song. I have known and loved it for almost 40 years.

I HATE this particular version. The reason I hate it is because of the inappropriate syncopation, which I find jarring and anachronistic.

Your tastes may vary. That's fine with me.

I believe Stephan Foster also would have hated this version. Maybe I'm wrong.

[themonaghans]

Nanci said in connection with this album that she went back to Stephen Foster's original sheet music for this version. So, in fact, it is the way he would want it sung.

[LazlosPlane]

I'm a Foster scholar with two MA's in music. I've spoken at the Smithsonian Institute and around the world.

You, sir, or madam, are an idiot.

You know NOTHING of the practices of 19th century MINSTRELSY (which this song was written for, along with most of Foster's tunes) nor are you capable of adjusting your feeble aesthetic intuition.

I don't believe you "love' anyting.

[TheCathyLeach]

I think this version of the song ,with the pictures of our present situation, tell a story of how we, all humanity, continue to struggle in the survival of our species! I commend IDDBUD for giving us such a vivid clip of an OLD FOLK TUNE!

[dreiband]

Great song.

Horrible version. Horrible.

At least dump the syncopation.

Horrible version of a great song.

[netwitted]

This may be a variation of how Stephen Foster intended to have his piece played, however to me, it's a very moving interpretation. I would say the military interpretation on your home page is very cold ,very fast, very unfeeling, and truly an affront to and inconsistent with the message of the song. They were concerned with the performance , rather than the message of Hard Times, in my opinion. When you say this is a horrible version, I think you stand alone on this one,

[TheCathyLeach]

Listen to the lyrics and you should get it's inner meaning of an ongoing struggle for all people's of the Earth! This song is Timeless because history will show that all peoples and cultures of all the people of this planet keep overcoming our extinction BECAUSE we have hearts that LOVE!

[triptoheaveandho]

YOU ASK OTHER PEOPLE.i am IN this positiopn i am on food stamps now nhave not hot weater or working toilet very very poor and not from anything I ever did or didnt do- but i wouldnt kill a dog. sorry. walk in my shoes-i have been there and i am there now .

i have eaten from dumpsters and begged for food as well.-

[Spikeytimeless]

WHO do you ask? Let me know, I'd be fascinated.

[triptoheaveandho]

EVERYONE

[RIOFRAFF]

superb, theres a great nova scotian band who cover this amazingly highland heights their called

[TheCathyLeach]

I love this song! It so fullheartedly expresses the human suffering that continues to this day! The song was written by Steven Foster in 1859! A great version found here!

[fanchbrezoneg]

Dear TheCahyLeach the song was written in 1854 during the Great Depression. 1959 is a mistake of Mare Winningham in the movie "Georgia".

Please don't repeat that.

[triptoheaveandho]

bob Dylansd is my favorite

[triptoheaveandho]

another commnet her voice is niot pretty and very affected("Lingahhhed"? i prefer the kate and anna mcGarrigke version)

[chuchuwhy]

that's not a nice image to see, respect for animals.

[billyguns2]

This is one of the greatest songs ever written, timeless in its beauty and subject matter; Stephen Foster was a genius.

[triptoheaveandho]

well i love this song but cannot continue to view after seeinbg nthe image of peopl,e eating as dog that was ujn called for and went oo far and it was upsetting to -you didnt havr to incklude that,i love my own dogs anbd woukld rtather starve myself than doi that=that did not need to be part oif this thansk for ruining an histoirc sonmg for nme thast i really wanted to hear as a musician

[cf9113]

you are more worried about a picture of the dog being eaten than the people who have no food to eat? Are you serious. Do you think they wanted to eat the dog? Get a life.

[triptoheaveandho]

I dont put peoople above animals=people can make decisisons animals cannot make- people can speak and ask for help-dogs cannot-they trust humans-have lived alongside humans for eons and because a dog trusted these humans they bashed his skull in for food?n there is always a better way i have been poor and destitute= lived on the street-begged for food never did that-the song soke for itself -didnt need the grusome image that made me turn away-

can speak they can ask for help

[deaddoc]

Sorry to tell you, but dog is eaten even in good times in places like the Philipines. They actually raise them for that purpose.

As for the song, this version is not so great in my view. Mary Black does it with much more feeling and one new version is out with a very earnest old time sound from a backed up chorus.

[oopsydahlia]

I eat kangaroo and goanna which appals visitors from overseas. I can't ever see myself ever eating my beloved friend canis, but with hard tarms, one can never be certain.

[sachsmd]

I never heard of this artist before, but her tone is edgier, angrier, than the other posted versions--

those of Bob Dylan, James Taylor, etc.--and therefore much more effective.

Dr. Demento

[MehefinHeulog]

What a song and a what a beautiful arrangement. Nanci Griffith surely is a great performer.

Some very moving images.

Thank you for posting this, lddybud.

yes grace indeed

[RuthinTampa]

thx for posting

Bruce is singing this lately and it was great to be able to learn the song via Nanci Griffith, she is wonderful

[upthegills27]

Dear Iddybud

Thanks for posting a great song. Makes you think!

Great photo.

All the best

[oopsydahlia]

My apologies, though this has been a trend elsewhere as described.

I have also had this login 'error' problem since the recent YT 'upgrade'. It often takes me three tries to get on, don't be dissuaded, you'll get through on the third.

Thanks again for your manners :-)

[oopsydahlia]

A new YT nametag each day then

to inflate your 'numbers'

and make it look like you actually have support?

I suppose those taking indefensible positions resort to such dishonesty to justify their own existence.

The thing is, there are real people here, with real problems, not just alter egos talking to one another like someone in a completely dissociated and delusional state.

I thank you for being more courteous than other fundamentalists such vicious wildamericanboy -10 allters to date.

[tiredofmichigan]

All I can say is, Thy Kingdom Come!

[oopsydahlia]

Sometimes when faced with a crisis,

or in this case,

an overwhelming international catastrophe caused by greedy americans,

I am reminded of what my grandpa used to remind me

"Silence is golden".

Only a fundamentalist could post such inane & insensitive drivel.

That the world is facing financial, social, religious and military havoc because of the greed of your countrymen seems to have passed you by -

stuck as you are in your fairytale of religion.

Faith one day bailiiff the next.

[s6u6r6f6]

oopsydahlia....time you wore your mask...here comes the catastrophe...brought to you by Mexicans...those greedy selfish mexicans.

[oopsydahlia]

That is the height of your witty repartee?

We are overdue for a flu pandemic, but this Influenza A subtype is not it, but a destraction from the GFC.

Have a nice day.

* yawn *

[NJKatwoman]

I loved this video, and still do. Did you see the heartbreaking scene at the .22, when they were eating a dog? Man, how sad is that? God....we may be heading that way again, if Congress doesn't start passing some bills to help America get out of the trouble that we are in. It will be worse the The Great Depression, and this time, it will be World Wide! Thank you, Josh198869 for the share!

[gorby1952]

Hard times do always come again but they also leave with the blowing of a strong, severe but friendly wind...

Wish you many strenght from Daniël, Haarlem, The Netherlands

[lilman21887]

the great depression was world wide in the late 20s and 30s

[oopsydahlia]

This Depression will be likewise

world wide and very long.

[gorby1952]

Again: come on!

Your depression must be over now!

Do you have food and drinks?

Do you have friends and/or family?

Do you have anything that cheers you up?

In that case: cheer up now!

[NJKatwoman]

Yes, Gorby1952, I am pulling thru, thank you! I am focusing on a brighter tomorrow. I have been to hell and back in a handbasket more than a few times, and have always pulled thru....like a Kat, landing on all fours. By the grace of God, good friends, and the Angels that the Lord puts in my path, I will pull thru again.

Thank you gorby1952 for your heartening words and spirit! :)

[dav7boz]

Please. Aren't we learning??? The first thing I see you worrying about is your poor little self!

When you see these things think about your elders, your ancestors that went through what they did, the way they felt. If the shit hits for real you'll still be focused inward! They were NOTHING like we are. Soft and weak and self-centered. Stop. Don't even think of a response. Think about THEIR experience! Not your poor sniveling existence! Please.

[NJKatwoman]

Well, that is your "perception". Since you are not in my head, or in my heart, you do not know the depths of my empathy for others. But, we cannot help others if we cannot help ourselves. Everyone struggles to survive. Period. Do you not ever tire of the struggle, day7box? How would you live if you were homeless, w/ no place to go? No money to eat? Walk a mile in anothers shoes. I am a survivor, because I am Greek! The Greeks are my ancestors. WE survive!

[ParArdua]

Americans like dear old George forget that it was

the Greeks gave us Democracy.

Go the Greeks!

[good luck with eurovision and world cup]

[santamara]

A great song and very nice version!

Excellent and touching video!

Thank you and to NJKatwoman for sharing.

[demonroofing]

Thank you my 14 yr old son watched the whole thing wwith out me saying anything over my shoulder as i watched some things do not have to be discussed just thought of in the minds of the young and im sure it will be brought up as he thinks

[NJKatwoman]

The imagry behind this, is so powerful and immensly moving. If it touches another human beings heart, than the message has been sent. And the message will spread. Like a pebble into the middle of a pond, I pray that the ripples reach other's hearts....My prayer to Humanity is: Please, have more compassion for all living things.

[NJKatwoman]

I have never heard a version of this that I liked since I heard Clair Lynch sing it.

I now have to adjust my thinking...

Your version is beautiful..

I have always adored this song

and it is one I can dearly relate to.

God Bless you for doing such a tremendous job on this song!

Five Stars! And Favorited!

[realswellguy]

The motion picture 'The Neon Bible'

was where I discovered this classic

American tear-jerker. I love it!

[xixibaba45]

A great song written Stephen C Foster

[davidfraserg]

A great rendition of this beautiful song. Listen to Kate & Anna McGarrigle's and Thomas Hampson's versions as well.

[sjbraitman]

I think that the best version of this song was recorded by Mavis Staples on the CD, Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster, released in 2004 by American Roots Publishing.

[mavis41558]

Mavis (not in any way related to me) Staples version is in fact great - look also for Emmylou Harris' version. You may like it as well.

Thanks to Iddybud for Nanci's singing here as well as your moving images.

[ranfranthompson]

If we look close we see Jesus in these photos!

[GisliTheBuilder]

Nancy is one of the best.

Well done with the pictures on the video.

GO

[slowpokecat]

5***** what a great voice

[xboilermaker]

It's sad that I cannot find the most moving version by Thomas Hampson. As I am waiting for his "Song of America" cd to arrive, I am reduced to watching the ending credits of "Neon Bible" on the Movie Channel xtra tomorrow at just after 11:00 am eastern time. Then wait for Wednesday's scheduled showing on TMC just to hear this version. (unless my cd that I just ordered arrives) I am sure that I will not be forced to watch the closing credits Friday afternoon. Surely.

[kuczwanski1]

I've loved the song long before I loved Nanci. Her performance is among my favorites.

[cheerydavie]

A great song written Stephen C Foster you might like to haear another version of this song on my channel by Tich Frier

[brordus1959]

dylan does it best on willie nelson tribute vid

[MissStyx]

I know many will disagree but, love the song, but not her voice or singing.

[lookinglassalice]

who is singing with Nanci ? Irish woman? Dolores Keane? Mary Black? Maura O'Connell?

[mkearley49]

Dolores Keane

[heggers9]

I like this - Nancy u r brilliant and thanks for posting this.

[trueredfox]

i liked it but Eclipses virsion was much better

[lonesomeroamer]

The voices of the poor resonating around my ears along with their sorrowful words "Oh, hard times, hard times come again no more..." Ah, being a poor myself Alone 'n alone all along This lonly trail of tears and woes Though no one hears my pleading song Yet, I sing the song of mine As I am leaving this world forever and ever Somewhere down under dark and quiet Where there shall be no poor or rich...

[Max403]

Nanci sings it the best.

[asvabaroni]

Unfortunatly there will always be hard times everywhere,I think if we believe in and love our Lord,He shows us ways to help the afflicted.

[Iddybud]

Gospel of Thomas: "If those who lead you say to you, 'look, the Kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds will get there first."

[Iddybud]

Meaning, if we believe the Kingdom of God is an interior state and not focused some event that's concentrated on the catastrophic shattering of the world as we know it, we can answer to the Lord when he calls usto help the poor here and now.

[porkinwitz]

where is the gospel of thomas?

[asvabaroni]

God didn't do this.

[34039thstreet]

A great rendition of a timeless song; thanks for the post!

[Rick0125]

GREAT song and Nanci Griffith is great too.. thanks for the post

[redcarpetsuzanne]

Remarkable piece. The mark of a great artist is how their work remains relavant and continues to resonate with generations to come. Stephen Foster was one of the most gifted songwriters to ever grace the face of this earth. I pray that wherever he is now, he knows how his music is loved and appreciated by many.

[andyfedel]

very nice. i'd give it a 10 if i could. its also a very moving video. ironically, stephen foster knew some hard times first hand and sadly died in poverty himself. being one of america's first pop song writers also wrote of his surroundings slavery,"old black joe" and "camptown races"

etc. an exceptional songster of his times. thanks for the nancy griffith version, even though she hacked up "ling gad" lingered, ha, ha.

[supernan101]

beautiful job!!!

[bmcneese45]

Beautiful. Thank you for posting this important video. Being Americna, I am familiar with Stephen Foster songs but never heard this one. Thanks again.

[joeyjojo4]

I reiterates: Bravo!

But why must dear Nanci butcher the word, "Lingered"?? It's tough to listen to.

[joeyjojo4]

Bravo!

[gijsbert27]

let us hope that hard times come again no more for everyone great song Thanks

[SkylineEagle]

Its very sad song...

[Jualmir]

Dear Friend!!! greeting from Brazil!!! Wow!!! very nice this video!!! congratulations!!! I am a lyrical singer, in my repertoire I have many songs os Stephen Foster such as Beautiful Dreamer, My Old Kentucky Home, Old Black joe , Hard times come again no more and others... Great Hug

[themonaghans]

This is a very moving slide show. Nanci Griffith's interpretation of this song is fantastic. Thanks for posting it.

[Iddybud]

I especially gave exposure to the people of New Orleans, the city whose hidden poverty was unveiled to the rest of America and to the world after Katrina blew that veil away.

[samuel17517]

"But God chose not to assist. He simply walked away, being the gentleman that he is".

Anne Graham, daughter of Rev Billy Graham.

[oopsydahlia]

People in my country saw the reponse to Katrina and the treatment of its poorest inhabitants as an attempt at ethnic cleansing.

A doctor who euthanased drowning patients rather than watching them starve or die from a lack of medicines was prosecuted.

After the hurricane, the rich were supported in their efforts to rebuild

while the poor actively dissuaded.

Watch who will be suppotred during this financial hurricane, and who is left to die

The Land of the Free?

No, the Land for the Rich.

[kangaroocomedy]

Well done Oopsydahlia for speaking up

[lukessummer]

We have a lot to be thankful for in this life...Not being in one of these photographs for a start.

Good post.

[Iddybud]

I wanted to show the faces of poverty and misfortune all around our world - tsunami, war, hurricane, famine, and social injustice, along with the faces of families affected by disease that could have been prevented but wasn't - because not only did their governments not care enough, but we have also turned our faces from their pain for too long.

[Iddybud]

I'd like to say that only one of the photos in this essay is mine, the rest were found on the web. FYI, I used the image of my own father in the third image. He's the gentleman in the hat looking out meditatively toward the ocean near Kennebunkport, Maine.

[GOD711]

This is a stunning video set to a wonderful song sung by one of the absolutely great interpreters of music. Nanci should be declared a national treasure.