A7/6       D6       F#7 
My mother told me before she passed away, 
 
 Bm7                Bm7/E  D5+             D7 
Said, "Son, when I'm gone, don't forget to pray 
 
                   G6         Edim            D6   B7 
'Cause there'll be hard times,    Lord those hard times -- 
 
E7/9 E7   G/B    A7/5+ D6   Cdim  Em7 - G/B - A7sus4 - A7 
Who knows better than I?" 
 
 
A7/6    D6            F#7 
Well I soon found out just what she meant 
 
    Bm7               Bm7/E   D5+             D7 
When I had to pawn my clothes just to pay the rent; 
 
               G6         Edim   D6        B7 
Talkin' 'about hard times,     hard times 
 
E7/9 E7   G/B    A7/5+ D6   Cdim  Em7 - G/B - A7sus4 - A7 
Who knows better than I? 
 
 
A7/6    D6          F#7 
I had a woman, Lord,    who was always around, 
 
    Bm7            Bm7/E  D5+             D7 
But when I lost my money,     she put me down. 
 
               G6        Edim                 D6        B7 
Talkin' 'bout hard times,      you know those hard times, 
 
            E7/9 E7   G/B    A7/5+ D6   Cdim  Em7 - G/B - A7sus4 - A7 
Yeah, Lord, who knows better than I? 
 
 
A7/6    D6            F#7 
Lord, one of these days, there'll be no sorrow 
 
Bm7           Bm7/E            D5+             D7 
When I pass away, 
 
G6         Edim   D6        B7 
And no more hard times, 
 
           E7/9  E7   G/B    A7/5+ D6   F#7   B7 
Yeah, yeah, who knows better than I? 
 
            E7/9  E7   G/B    A7/5+ D6 
Yeah, Lord, who knows better than I?