I’d trade this one horse town for the city in a minute
‘Cept I don’t really like the hassle
Biggest news round here was when Robin got drunk
Broke her foot and wound up in El Paso
Call came to me to pick her up
And run her back to town
Felt like the cops or her daddy or something
And neither of us made a sound

And its hard times and nothing to do
When the Rio Grande is dry
Cops ‘ll stop you coming into town doing a mile over 35
If it weren’t for the lottery the schools would just
Shut their doors up tight
Hard times on the Rio Grande and the wind’s coming up high

I got a pain in my gut where the doctor cut
I hope he got it all this time
I drive five hours just to watch the high school kids
Lose it at the free throw line
I wish someone would just up and murder someone
Even if it happened to be me
Sitting in the Broadway Barbecue
Squeezing lemon in my tea

And its hard times and nothing to do
And the Rio Grande is dry
Cops will stop you coming into town doing a buck over 35
Saturday night is karaoke night
You kill ‘em with the Lovesick Blues
Hard times on the desert plain and the wind is stronger than you

And the babes have taken over on Broadway
Sarongs and handmade clothes
Couple of skate punks with orange hair
Shuffle past Second-hand Rose

The Radio Shack looks out of place
It’s the one store that ain’t usually closed
Clay’s sharpening blades in the backyard
He’ll cut your heart out with one throw

And its hard times and nothing to do
And the Rio Grande is dry
Cops will stop you coming into town doing a mile over 35
The newspaper says it’s getting drier
And they’re bracing for disease
Hard times on the desert plain and the wind brings you to your knees

(lyrics: Dan Bern)