Hard, Ain't It Hard – Woody Guthrie acoustic guitar, vocal & harmonica cover by Jack Straw

Woody Guthrie is credited with writing this one, but it sure seems like a conglomeration of older lyrics. And since Woody claimed 'to steal from everyone' when it came to tunes it probably is swiped from a bunch of sources. Woody himself has several versions of lyrics to this one.

The Almanac Singers made the first recording of it in 1941.

I took the lyrics from the alternate version. found "The Woody Guthrie Songbook".

Lyrics:
There is a house in this old town
Where my true love lays around
Takes other women right down on his knee
Tells them tales he don't tell me

Chorus
Hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard
To love one who never did love you
Hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard great god
To love one that never would be true

Oh late last night when my true love come home
Rapping, tapping at my door
I jumped up in a fit of blind jealousy, I said
True love, don't you rap here no more

True love flies over the ocean
True love flies over the sea
My heart sails away on the wings of my love
To bring back my true love to me

The first time I was my true love
She was standing in her mother's door
The last time I seen her sweet smiling face
Was dead on the cooling board

If I walk the pathways of sorrow
I'll ask no one to go for me
When I knock upon them bright pearly gates
I'll cry: Good Lord! Have mercy on me!

@jackstrawvibes