Capo 1

[Verse 1]
             
There was a Ca

         
mptown man who

             
 used to plow 

     
and sing
            
       He love

          
d that mule an

             
d the mule lov

    
ed him
            
When the day g

          
ot long as it 

          
does about now
            
      I'd hear

           
 him singing t

             
o his muley co


w
             
Calling come o

              
n, my sweet ol

   
d girl
             
I’d bet the wh

           
ole damn world
             
We’re gonna ma

          
ke it yet to t

             
he end of the 

       
row

[Chorus]
             
Singing hard t

          
imes ain’t gon

             
na rule my min

   
d
         
Hard times ain

             
’t gonna rule 

         
my mind, Bessi

e
         
Hard times ain

             
’t gonna rule…

          
 my mind
      
No more

[Verse 2]
He said it's a mean old world, heavy in need
That big machine is just a-picking up speed
We're supping on tears and we're supping on wine
But we all get to heaven in our own sweet time
So come on you Asheville boys
Turn up your old time noise
Kick till the dust comes up from the cracks in the floor

[Chorus] 
Singing hard times ain't gonna rule my mind, brother
Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind
Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind
No more

[Verse 3]
But the Camptown man he doesn't plow no more
I seen him walking down to the cigarette store
Guess he lost that knack and he forgot that song
Woke up one morning and the mule was gone
So come all ye ragtime kings
Come on you dogs that sing
Pick up your dusty old horn and give it a blow

[Chorus]
Singing hard times ain't gonna rule my mind
Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind, sugar
Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind
No more