[Chorus]
Oh well, it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard (Oh, yes)
To love one who never did love you?
Oh well, it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard (Great God!)
To love one who never will be true?

[Verse 1]
Well, there is a house in this old town
And that's where my true love lays around
And She sits down upon another's knee (Do tell)
And tells him what she never will tell me

[Chorus]
Oh well, it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard (Oh, yes)
To love one who never did love you?
Oh well, it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard (Great God!)
To love one who never will be true?

[Verse 2]
Oh well, the first time I seen my true love
She was a-standin' by my door
And the last time I seen her false-hearted smile
She was dead on that barroom floor (Poor girl!)

[Chorus]
Oh well, it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard (Oh, yes)
To love one who never did love you?
Oh well, it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard (Great God!)
To love one who never will be true?
[Verse 3]
Well, who's gonna kiss your ruby lips?
Who's gonna hold your little hand?
And who's gonna do, well, you know what
When I'm down in that Promised Land? (Yes!)

[Chorus]
Oh well, it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard (Oh, yeah)
To love one who never did love you?
Oh well, it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard (Great God!)
To love one who never will be true?

(Take it, pilgrim!)

[Banjo Solo]

[Verse 4]
Oh well, don't go drinkin' and gamblin'
Don't go there your sorrows for to drown
Oh well, this hard liquor place is a low-down disgrace
It's the meanest darn place in this town

[Chorus]
Oh well, it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard (Oh, yes)
To love one who never did love you?
Oh well, it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard (Great God!)
To love one who never will be true?
(Here we go!)

Oh well, it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard (Oh, yes)
To love one who never did love you?
Oh well, it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard (Great God!)
To love one who never will be true?