In The Days When I Was Hard Up - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
In the Days when I was Hard Up 
In the days when I was hard up, not many years ago, I suffered that which only can the sons of misery know; Relations, friends, companions, they all turned up their nose, And they rated me a vagabond for want of better clothes. 
In the days when I was hard up, for want of food and fire, I used to tie my shoes up with little bits of wire; When huugry, cold, cast on a rock, and could not get a meal, How oft I've beat the devil down for tempting me to steal. 
In the days when I was hard up, for furniture and drugs, Many a Summer's night I've held communion with the bugs; I never faced them with a pike, or smashed them on the wall, I said the world was wide enough, there's room enough for all. 
In the days when I was hard up, I used to lock my door, For fear the landlady should say you can't lodge here no more. From my own back drawing-room, about ten feet by six, In the work-house wall just opposite, I've counted all the bricks. 
In the days when I was hard up, I bowed my spirits down, And often have I sought a friend to borrow half a crown; How many are there in this world whose evil eye can scan The shabby suit of toggery, but cannot see the man. 
In the days when I was hard up. I found a blissful hope, It's all a poor man's heritage to keep him from the rope; Now I've found a good old maxim, and this shall be my plan, Altho' I wear a ragged coat, I'll wear it like a man.