If The Good Times Ever Come Back Round

[Verse 1] Mama’s mending broken shoes By the window Hears the news Headlines say the banks are gone Papa’s too late No money drawn Nickels in a coffee can Counted by his trembling hands [Chorus] We used to pile the table high Ham and cheeses, Cherry pie Now we’re stretching beans with water Prayin’ for our sons and daughters If the good times ever come back ’round Will we know how to sit back down? In this house of broken dreams We live on less than what it seems [Verse 2] Brother sold his baseball bat For a sack of flour Just like that Baby cries The milk’s run dry Mama sings him a lullaby Papa doesn’t work, instead He queues for hours To bring home the bread [Chorus] We used to pile the table high Ham and cheeses, Cherry pie Now we’re stretching beans with water Prayin’ for our sons and daughters If the good times ever come back ’round Will we know how to sit back down? In this town of broken dreams We barely live within our means [Bridge] Neighbours passing hats at dusk Crumpled bills and pitied looks We trade jam jars We trade stories We trade sleep for better luck Mama says “Hold on to kind ’Cause that’s the one thing they can take away from us!” [Melancholic Dixieland instrumental interlude] [Chorus] We used to pile the table high Ham and cheeses, Cherry pie Though we’re stretching beans with water Prayin’ for our sons and daughters If the good times ever come back ’round We WILL know how to sit back down In this world of broken dreams There’s still a ray of hope that gleams