Discover the story of the song > Hard Times – Gillian Welch

The song tells the story of a man who used to sing to his mule while working on the field. Even when times got tough, he remained positive and refused to let hard times control him. The song encourages everyone, especially the men of Asheville, to stay strong and not let tough times get them down. The song ends with an update that the man no longer farms, but the message remains the same - to stay strong and not let hard times control your mind.