"Lean And Hungry Years" (Words and music by David Olney)

D A D

D G
Well, if rich was having money, I reckon I was poor
D A
If success was being good, I was bad down to the core
D G
Cause the times were hard and lonesome and the thrills were stricktly cheap
D A D
But the nights were warm and hazy and the women soft and sweet

G D
And laughter filled my throat and music filled my ears
A D
And dreams filled my head in the lean and hungry years

D G D A D G D A D

D G
With the lowdown and the workers, with the no pound and no good
D A
Trust was something sacred, I knew where I stood
D G
Yeah, I knew I could count on when the burdens got too great
D A D
When the bad news came too early and the good news came too late

G D 
I roared out all my anger and I choke back all my tears
A D
That's how you make it through those lean and hungry years

D G D A D G D A D

D G
Well, a dollar was an angel and a fool was a king
D A
And any old excuse was good enough to sing
D G
All those songs that weren't so pretty, they were ragged, but they were right
D A D
And they were all you had some times to get you through the night

G D
When right outside your window were a million doubts and fears
A D
A song to keep you warm and those lean and hungry years

D G D A D G D A D

G D
When right outside your window were a million doubts and fears
A D
A song to keep you warm and those lean and hungry years

D G A D

From "Roses", 1991 Philo 1137
(David Olney/Hayes Court Music-Irving Music, BMI)