HARD TIMES COME EASY^©

Live 31 Jan 1998 version

(One, two, three, four)

It's amazing, we go through changes
When times get crazy, it's up and down, it's hot and cold

These complications, just keep on coming
There ain't not running, when it comes to life that's how it goes

Round and round we go, (ooh, ooh)
Sometimes it feels like, we're on a roller coaster ride
Baby, don't you know, it could you up
If you try to keep it all inside

Seems like hard times come easy, we do a lot of hanging on these days
But the heart finds a reason, and love always seems to find a way
Even if it hurts, even if it hurts, baby

There's gonna be thunder, there's gonna be rain
There's gonna be those times, we both get caught up in the pain
The realization, keeps sinking in
The way you make it, learn to take it on the chin

Round and round we go
It's just another day, with trouble knocking at your door, baby

Baby don't you know, we can work it out
'Cause we always seem to find a cure

Seems like hard times come easy, we do a lot of hanging on these days
But the heart finds a reason, and love always seems to find a way
Even if it hurts, even if it hurts, baby
Even if it hurts, even if it hurts you baby
Yeah!

Round and round we go
It's just another day, like a roller coaster ride, baby
Baby don't you know, we'll keep holding on
Through the changes that we feel inside, yeah
Seems like hard times comes easy
We do a lot of hanging on these days
But the heart finds a reason
And love always seems to find a way
(Hard times come easy)
(Hard times)
Hard times come easy, baby
(Hard times)
Hard times
(Hard times)
They come easy
(Talkin' 'bout hard times)
Talkin' bout hard times
(Talkin' 'bout hard times)
I'm talkin' bout hard times
(Talkin' 'bout hard times)
(Hard times)
They come easy
(Talkin' 'bout hard times)
(Hard times)
(Talkin' 'bout hard times)
(Hard times)
(Talkin' 'bout hard times)
(Hard times)
(Talkin' 'bout hard times)
(Hard times) They come easy
(Talkin' 'bout hard times) Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Hard times)
(Talkin' 'bout hard times)
(Hard times)
Talkin' 'bout hard times

[spoken:] Thank you very much!

Page last updated: 18 Sep 2007

Written by Richie Sambora and Richie Supa. Check out Richie Sambora's original version for more details.

The song was performed live with Bruce Springsteen once, on 31 Jan 1998 during the "Come Together: Jon Bon Jovi & Friends" benefit concert held at Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ, and the above lyrics correspond to that performance. Richie Sambora was on lead vocals, and Bruce Springsteen probably was playing guitar during this song (assuming he was on stage all night).

The "Come Together: Jon Bon Jovi & Friends" benefit concert was organized by the Long Branch Police Department, The Asbury Park Press, and FPI Concerts, along with Jon Bon Jovi. The concert was to honor slain Long Branch police officer Sgt. Patrick King and raise money for the Sgt. Patrick King Memorial Fund to provide for his family. King, 45-year-old father of two young boys, was fatally shot on 20 Nov 1997 by a fugitive who had vowed to kill himself and a police officer rather than be captured and returned to jail.

20 musicians with ties to the Jersey shore music scene answered Jon Bon Jovi's call, including Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa and several members of the then-disbanded E Street Band (Clarence Clemons, Danni Frederici, Patti Scialfa, Little Steven, and Max Weinberg), Southside Johnny, Bobby Bandiera, and Richie Sambora among others. Actor Danny DeVito was the event's MC. Tickets, which were priced at $125, went on sale on 17 Jan 1998 noon, selling out in eight minutes. The concert that was organized in short order raised more than $112,000 for King's widow and his two sons.

"It was a chance to forget about it [the murder] a little bit," Long Branch police Sgt. Bruce Johantgen, one of about 50 city police officers who attended the show, told The Asbury Park Press. "The outpouring of love from the performers to the audience was unbelievable". Johantgen said he found it ironic that Bon Jovi and other performers thanked the audience for coming to the sold-out show. "From the police perspective, I kept thinking, 'We should be thanking you for giving your time'," Johantgen said.

This was a near-reunion of the fabled E Street Band and Bruce's first full-length electric gig following the acoustic The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour. Springsteen spent much of (or maybe all) the night onstage, singing or playing guitar only. Soundboard recording for that concert is available among collectors.

The above lyrics are for the live 31 Jan 1998 performance at Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ. Check out Richie Sambora's original version.

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake from BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.

Request:
Was Bruce Springsteen playing guitar on all of the 31 Jan 1998 show's tracks on which he didn't sing? Info should be found on Backstreets magazine #58 [Spring 1998]. If you can assist, please contact me via the below form or by email: . You will be credited. Thanks in advance.

Spoken intro to HARD TIMES COME EASY [Live 31 Jan 1998 version]:

[Jon Bon Jovi:] Southside, now I'm right here man, here's got a brand new album coming out. Richie's got himself a solo record coming out. It's called "Undiscovered Soul" and he's gonna sing you a song, alright.
[Richie Sambora:] What a night, what a night here ladies and gentlemen, tonight I get to play something new for you. It's a privilege.
[somebody on stage:] Whenever you're ready Richie. Here we go.