Hard Times
Music and Lyrics by L. Gillam

Her face shows no emotion as her tears fall to the floor
Her thoughts are on those empty shelves behind the pantry door
Reduced to stealing dinner she’s a vision of defeat, but she does
What must be done so that tonight her kids can eat,
So tonight her kids can eat, she’s fallen on

Hard times, but do we really want to care?
Open hearts open our minds and tell us all it’s time to share
She’s fallen on hard times, but do we really need to see?
Misfortune’s the one thing dividing her from you and me

He leans against his car, stares at the nozzle in his hand
His wife and kids chat happily about the day that they’ve got planned
His eyes are overflowing, he tries not to let it show, ‘cause
He can’t afford this tank of gas, and he doesn’t want them to know,
Lord, please don’t let them know, he’s fallen on

Hard times, but do we really want to care?
Open hearts open our minds and tell us all it’s time to share
He’s fallen on hard times, but do we really need to see?
Misfortune’s the one thing dividing him from you and me

He steps into the schoolyard and he scans for watchful eyes
No kids around at 6 am to discover all his lies
He sneaks in every morning to wash clothes and take a shower
Mom drives off in their tiny home, wondering how she’ll fill each hour,
How she’ll fill each empty hour, they’ve fallen on

Hard times, but do we really want to care?
Open hearts open our minds and tell us all it’s time to share
They’ve fallen on hard times, but do we really need to see?
Misfortune’s the one thing dividing them from you and me