Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: folk
Song Meaning of “Hard Times Come Again No More” by The Chieftains
The traditional American folk song “Hard Times Come Again No More”, performed by The Chieftains, speaks of the hardships of life and the hope to overcome them. The opening lyrics set the tone with a plaintive plea for reprieve: “Let us pause in life’s pleasures, and count its many tears, while we all sup sorrow with the poor.” These words emphasize the idea of shared struggle, that everyone can relate to.
The verses that follow express the sense of despair and hopelessness that so many people can feel during difficult times: “’Tis the voice of the hopeless that fades on the air, It says ‘hard times come again no more’”. Throughout the entirety of the song, the chorus is a glimmer of hope – a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is a promise of better days to come. The lyrics echo the sentiment that “However dark the clouds may gather, however low we may despair, there’s a hand to grasp in hardship, and a light that will banish care”.
The Chieftains skillfully perform the song with beautiful harmonies and instrumentation, conveying a range of emotions that are truly palpable. The lyrics of this song speak to every person’s experience of hardship, reminding us that it is a universal emotion. The music gives it a sense of comfort, encouraging us not to give up, but to push through and find strength in the knowledge that “hard times come again no more”.