Cold Hard World

Don't Be Scared (1982)

 

It's a cold hard world

it's a cold hard world

it's a cold hard world

oh no

 

I heard Red Donley say

it was on the news today

it's a cold hard world

it's a cold hard world

 

it's hiking across the country

looking for a bite to eat

you'd be surprised at the animals

and the people you'd meet

 

rolling down that highway

with eyes fixed straight ahead

they have a caravan of cars

to bury the dead

and coke cans and pop bottles

lined the streets like flowers instead

 

and this guy gave me a ride

I said this industrial waste sure stinks

he said he likes that smell

'cause that's the smell of money

i said "well, mister money stinks, too."

 

[ref.]

 

I met a fireman

he said you never forget burning flesh

and the librarian said

do you have a card here?

I said I been coming here for weeks

don't you recognize me by now

I checked out a million books

just to get you to notice me

 

[ref.]

 

Somebody's house burned down

somebody's hubcap fell off

somebody's soul got lost

somebody's heart got broke

 

I heard Red Donley say

it was on the news today

it's a cold hard world

it's a cold hard world

 

Cold Hard World

(thanks to Peter Holy for lyrics and Jimmy Nothin' and Tim L for corrections)

The last chord of the progression is sometimes G, and sometimes G7.  It’s not really predictable, but the G7 tends to happen during the refrain.

Standard chords work well here.  I’ve also included a drop-D tuning that allows you to get a similar voicing as the piano chords (the D major in particular)

Drop-D variation.  Tune low string down to D.

C   X-3-2-0-1-0

D   0-0-4-2-3-X   or   0-0-4-2-3-2

G   5-5-0-0-0-1  (the thumb is an option for the fifth fret strings)

Cold Hard World

  C                    D                   G(7)               C

| 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  | 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  |

   C                   D                   G(7)

| 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  | 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  |

It's a cold hard world

It's a cold hard world

It's a cold hard world

Oh no

   C                    D                  G(7)               C

| 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  | 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  |

repeat

I heard Red Donley say

It was on the news today

It's a cold hard world

It's a cold hard world

It's hiking across the country

Looking for a bite to eat

You'd be surprised at the animals

And the people you'd meet

Rolling down that highway

With eyes fixed straight ahead

They have a caravan of cars

To bury the dead

  C                    D                   G(7)               C

| 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  | 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  |

   C                   D                   G(7)

| 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  | 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  |

And coke cans and pop bottles

Lined the streets like flowers instead

 And this guy gave me a ride

I said this industrial waste sure stinks

He said he likes that smell

'Cause that's the smell of money

I said "well, mister money stinks, too."

It's a cold hard world

It's a cold hard world

It's a cold hard world

Oh no

I met a fireman

He said you never forget burning flesh

And the librarian said

Do you have a card here?

I said I been coming here for weeks

Don't you recognize me by now

I checked out a million books

Just to get you to notice me

It's a cold hard world

It's a cold hard world

It's a cold hard world

Oh no

  C                    D                   G(7)               C

| 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  | 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  |

Somebody's house burned down

Somebody's hubcap fell off

Somebody's soul got lost

Somebody's heart got broke

I heard Red Donley say

It was on the news today

It's a cold hard world

It's a cold hard world