Ten long years Ten more to go One rotten jail Go on, let me go, son. Save your prayers Cry no more It ain’t going to help none. Could be the way it was. Could be the way it was. Could be the way it all was sown. Could be a hard row to hoe. You’re hitting land with hardened hoe. But all you plant don’t want to grow none. Beyond the pale, driven dust There ain’t no wonder. It’s hard to tell which way it goes. Doing well, then way down the road, son. You’re taking hell and giving blood To all that want some. Could be a hard row to hoe. Where it ends we never know. How or when or way down the road, son. What kind of men will we become? I’m trying to tell you. Don’t let them break me, lord. Don’t let them break me, lord. Could be the way it all was sown. Could be a hard row to hoe.