You know hard time is just an old friend, just an old friend to me I say hard time is just an old friend, just an old friend to me Tell me now, old friend, when you gonna let me be? Can't you feel a cold wind howlin' down, blowin' my song Can't you feel a cold wind howlin' down, blowin' my song Well, I ain't an old man, but you know my time ain't long Gonna be a hard rain - you can hear it in the distance, sounds so near Gonna be a hard rain - you can hear it in the distance, sounds so near People, when the rain comes, it's gonna wash us all away from here Mean old woman, people won't you tell me where can she be Mean old woman, people won't you tell me where can she be She's the only woman that ever meant a damn to me You know hard time is just an old friend, just an old friend to me I say hard time is just an old friend, just an old friend to me Tell me now, old friend, when you gonna let me be? Tell me now, old friend, when you gonna let me be? Tell me now, old friend, when you gonna let this poor man be?