Come here ladies and gentleman Listen to my song Play it to you right But you may think it wrong May make you mad But I mean no harm It's just about the renters On Penny's farm It's a hard time in the country Down on Penny's farm Go into the fields And you work all day Deep into the night But you get no pay Promise you some meat Or a little bucket of lard It's hard to make a living On Penny's farm It's a hard time in the country Down on Penny's farm Hear George Penny He'll be coming into town With a wagon load of peaches Not a one of them sound Gotta get his money Gotta get a check Pay you for a bushel But you never get a peck It's a hard time in the country Down on Penny's farm George Penny's renters They be coming into town With their hands in their pockets And their heads hanging down Go to the merchant And the merchant he'll say, “your mortgage it is due And I'm looking for my pay” It's a hard time in the country Down on Penny's farm Deep into his pocket With a trembling hand, “can't pay you what I owe But i'll pay you what I can” Down to the merchant And the merchant make a call Put you on the chain gang Don't pay at all It's a hard time in the country Down on Penny's farm